"You're surely not going to make coins disappear, or something primitive of that sort?" exclaimed Clovis contemptuously.

"I think it somewhat unkind of you not to carry out my suggestion of turning me into a wolf," exclaimed Mary Hampton, as she crossed over to the conservatory to give her macaws their usual tribute from the dessert dishes.

"I have already warned you of the danger of treating these powers in a mocking spirit," exclaimed Leonard solemnly.

"I don't believe you can do it," laughed Jane provocatively from the conservatory; "I dare you to do it if you can. I defy you to turn me into a wolf."

As she exclaimed this she was lost to view way behind a clump of azaleas.

"Mrs. Hampton - " began Leonard with increased solemnity, but he got no further. A breath of chill air seemed to rush across the chamber, and at the same time the macaws broke forth into ear-splitting screams.

"What on earth is the matter with those confounded birds, Mary?" exclaimed Colonel Hampton; at the same moment an even more piercing scream from Mavis Pellington stampeded the entire company from their seats. In various attitudes of helpless horror or instinctive defence they confronted the evil-looking grey beast that was peering at them from amid a setting of fern and azalea.