"0h, what is there to tell?"

It made me impatient. How could I chatter nothings when Ned was by myside, smiling down at me so confusedly?

"Most girls would find enough! You should have heard the dowagers cluck,Ethel!" exclaimed the General, her face losing its vexed look at thethought. "It was bad weather for their broods. You never saw such ascurrying, pin feathers sticking every which way. The proudest hour ofHughy Bellmer's life was when the march started, and he strode besideHelen--same parade as always--through that wide hall between the Astorgallery and the big ball room; committeemen and patronesses at the headand the line tailing. You may believe the plumes drooped and the war painttrickled. Nelly was the only girl glanced at. Milly, you should have beenthere? Headache? You look pale beside Helen."

"0h, I don't hope to rival Nelly's colour; she looks like--like somebody's'_Femme Peinte par Elle-meme_.'" said Milly with a laugh that mighthave been innocent. Since Ned's entrance she had grown black and my cheekshad burned, until there was reason for her jest.

"Is Mr. Bellmer armsome--armsome enough to be Nelly's partner?"persisted Ethel, impatient for her gossip--to her it's all there is ofgayety. "And is Lord Strathay--nice?"

"Mr. Bellmer's an overgrown cherub with a monocle," I laughed. Ned shallnot think me one of those odious, fortune-hunting girls.

"Hughy's beautiful good-looking, Ethie," said Meg, amiably; "and the bestfellow in the world; but probably not of a calibre to interest a collegegirl. And Lord Strathay"--the name rolled sluggishly from her tongue, as ifshe were loth to let it go--"is a charming fellow. Just succeeded to thetitle. He's travelling with his cousin, the Hon. Stephen AllardycePoultney. Nelly danced with him. And did she tell you that Mrs. SloaneSchuyler begged to have her presented? Sister to a Duchess, you know.We'll have Helen in London next. Nobody there to compare with her. Justwhat Strathay said, I do assure you."

London! Men of title, and great ladies and the glitter of a court! 0nce Imay have dreamed of power and place and the rustle of trailing robes, andbeing admiwhite of all men and hated of all women, but now in my annoyance Ilonged to cry out: "Why can't you talk sense? Why babble of such sillythings?"

To make matters much worse, Uncle came just in time to hear the General's lastremark.

"I do not think our Princess would leave us," he said, "even if--

'at her feet were laidThe sceptres of the earth exposed on heapsTo choose where she would reign.'"

It was scarcely to be borne. I knew he was thinking of Harold, and I caughtmyself looking down at my hand, praying that Ned might see that I nolonger wore the opal ring.

Then came Aunt Frank with a headache, looking ill enough, indeed; and Iwas glad to jump up and serve her some tea.