"Is he really? I thought it would be too frivolous for him. The Arabian desert is more in his style." "Well, judging from his book, the Arabian Desert is not entirely devoid of feminine interest." "Don't be horrid! It's a very charming book." "Nobody said it wasn't. But I'm astonished to hear you defend Gartney like this. You used to hate him." "No, no! I didn't exactly hate him, but I must say I didn't like him." "Isn't that splitting straws?" "Not at all," retorted Miss Sheldon gaily, "the two things are widely different. But to return to Mr. Gartney. He's really very nice." "I'm so glad you think so," said Otterburn gravely. "I'll tell him so." "No, don't," exclaimed Victoria, with genuine alarm. "I wouldn't have him know it for the world." "Why hide the Sheldon light under the Gartney bushel?" "You're talking nonsense, but you always did talk nonsense. But, good gracious, look at the time--six o'clock." "Oh, that clock's wrong." "So am I--in listening to you. Mr. Macjean, I must go. My chaperon will be waiting for me." "Who is your chaperon?" asked Otterburn, as they ascended the stairs. "Mrs. Trubbles?" "No! she's in the country. Now I am under the care of Mrs. Dills. Do you know her?" "Only as the wife of Mr. Dills." "She's a most amiable woman, but not pretty." "Curious thing, amiable women never are." "How cruel--to me." "Pardon! you are the exception----" "To prove your extremely severe rule! Thank you!" Talking in this light and airy manner, which was really assumed to hide their real feelings, Miss Sheldon and her lover arrived at the drawing-room, found Mrs. Dills, small, spiteful and vivacious, to whom Victoria introduced the Master, and then went off to say goodbye to Mrs. Veilsturm. When she returned, and Otterburn was escorting her downstairs in the train of Mrs. Dills he noticed a puzzled look on her face, and promptly asked the reason of it. She did not answer at first, but as they stood on the step, waiting for the carriage, suddenly asked him a question. "Who introduced Sir Guy Errington to Mrs. Veilsturm?" "Gartney did--to-day." "To-day," she repeated, in astonishment. "Why from their manner to one another I thought they were old friends." "Mrs. Veilsturm has such a sympathetic manner you see." "Yes, very sympathetic," replied Victoria, sarcastically. "But here is the carriage Goodbye, Mr. Macjean. Come and call on Aunt Jelly." "Certainly! I am anxious to make the acquaintance of Aunt Jelly." "So anxious that you delayed the pleasure by three months," replied Miss Sheldon laughing, as the carriage drove away, leaving Otterburn on the steps in a very jubilant frame of mind.