Letty thought her mistress would drop down dead, too, she clung so tightly to Royall Sherwood, and turned so deathly white, while she muttered, in impotent wrath: “How dared you do it?” Royall Sherwood went quite white, too, but he uttered no word; and Letty, with an air of innocence, tossed her head, twittering: “La, ma’am, did I do anything wrong? If so, I’m sure I beg pardon.” “You should have come to me first,” muttered Mrs. Fleming angrily; and the girl answered, with mock humility: “I didn’t know it, I’m sure. I didn’t know you had a claim on him.” “Silence, girl!” cried Royall, interpreting her mood; and he drew Mrs. Fleming aside into a deserted anteroom to discuss the situation. “Get me some wine, Royall; this is a terrible shock to my nerves!” she panted. She drank, and the ruby liquid coursed through her veins like fire, inspiring her with new courage. A low, hateful laugh trilled over her lips as she cried: “How very, very fortunate that he did not come ten minutes earlier!” “How very fortunate!” echoed Royall; but his blond face was ashy pale, and dismay lurked in his eyes. She held the half-drained glass to his lips, saying wildly: “Drink! it will give you courage. We must go and face them with the truth!” “No; I must keep a clear head,” he answered, in a shaking voice, pushing her hand aside, and adding: “This is a terrible complication that one shrinks from meeting.” “Courage!” she answered gayly, slipping her hand through his arm, and leading him, half unwillingly, down the hall toward the door that opened on the balcony. “I--I--hadn’t you better break it to her first alone? I dread a scene,” he muttered tremblingly. “Pshaw! don’t be a coward, Royall. You know your rôle. Just stick to it like a man, and all will be well. Her fate is sealed, and their anger cannot change it, however they rage. Come;” and, drawing him with her, the crafty schemer confronted the happy lovers on the moonlit balcony. Her low, grating laugh startled them from a happy dream, and they sprang apart in confusion as she cried: “Daisie, we have been searching for you everywhere! And here you are hiding from us like this, forgetting that your flirting days are over now! Why--Mr. Bain!” this in tones of profound surprise. Dallas, quickly recovering himself, bowed profoundly, and responded: “Yes, Mrs. Fleming, I am back again--just now returned--and meant to go in presently to greet you. Good evening, Mr. Sherwood. We are well met, all of us, for I wish to ask your congratulations on my engagement to Miss Bell.” He saw quite plainly, despite their seeming nonchalance, that the announcement would not wait, hence his haste. Royall Sherwood gave a start of dramatic surprise; his cousin groaned: “Good heavens!” Daisie, shrinking into the shadow of the vines, waited for her lover to explain the situation. He resumed sarcastically: