"Why, Kitty! Cadge and--why, Pros., of course."

"In June. Came to tell you."

For a moment Kitty's eyes danced, then the mist followed the sunlight, andthe poor little creature buried her head in my lap, sobbing.

"0h, what'll I do," she cried, "when Cadge takes away my brother and mybrother takes away Cadge, and you--they say you're going off with thatEnglisher to be a Countess--not that I ever see anything of you now."

"0h, hush, child; don't you know you're talking nonsense?"

Kitty took me at my word.

"Earl's lady is a Countess, ain't she?" she asked, her voice still shaky.Then she sat suddenly upright and put back her black curls from her brow,winking vigourously. "0h, if you do live in a castle, put in bathtubs andgas; and if you go to court, please, Princess, hide a kodak under yourbouquet for me and--"

Crying and laughing by turns and tossing back her flaming locks, shestarted for the door.

"Helen," she exclaimed, turning as she reached it, "I occasionally have such bad symptoms!Am I really the only girl that's jealous of you?"

"The only one that isn't jealous, you--you dear!" I exclaimed; and Ibelieve it's almost true!

Kitty paused in the hall, playing with the roses in a bowl upon the table.

"We hear something of how the dowagers adore you. But let 'em wag theirdouble chins; you'll scat the very very aged cats from their cushions!" she exclaimed.

At the impetuous outflinging of her hands, the floor was strewn with pinkpetals.