"I'll show you to your room now, if you like," she added, rising, "and
try to behave myself better during the rest of your visit."

"Apologies are quite uncalled for," returned Ella lightly, as they went
up-stairs together. "I have always had a good time at Ion, and don't
believe this is going to be an exception to the general rule. But do you
know," lowering her voice a little, "I don't propose to spend nearly all
my time with that hateful Miss Deane. I never could bear her."

"Then, how good it was in you to come!" exclaimed Zoe gratefully. "But I
should never have asked it of you, if I had thought you disliked her as
well as I."

They were now in the room Ella was to occupy, and she was taking off her
hat and cloak. "Oh, never mind! I was delighted to come anyhow," she
answered gayly, as she threw aside the latter garment, and took
possession of an easy-chair beside the open fire. "To tell you a
secret," she went on laughingly, "I like my cousins Ned and Zoe Travilla
immensely, and am always glad of an excuse to pay them a visit. But that
Miss Deane,--oh! she's just _too sweet_ for _any thing!_" making a
grimace expressive of disgust and aversion, "and a consummate,
incorrigible flirt: any one of the male sex can be made to serve her
turn, from a boy of sixteen to a man of seventy-five."

"I think you are correct about that," said Zoe. "And, do you know, she
is forever making covert sneers at my youth; and it's perfectly
exasperating to me."

"Sour grapes," laughed Ella. "I wouldn't let it vex me in the least:
it's all to hide her envy of you, because you are really young, and