outright."

"What did you tell her?" inquired Elsie.

"Oh! I said if she had ever seen either a rapid or a toboggan; she would
hardly think of associating the two."

"Some day I wish you and Lady Margaret would make an excursion to Canada,
and take me with you. It would be so exciting----"

"Come, Elsie," interrupted her mother, "come, we must go. Mademoiselle
Laurentia will be lonely."

The ladies rose to go, Elsie saying in an undertone to The McAllister:

"Now, don't spend an hour over those stupid politics. I want you to hear
mademoiselle sing."

"Politics!" he replied, with a disdainful shrug of his shoulders. "I take
no interest whatever in them. Do not fear, Miss Elsie."

"I should like to know what you do take an interest in," remarked the
young lady mischievously, as she hurried out of the room.

On entering the drawing-room they failed to find Mademoiselle Laurentia,
so Lady Severn proposed that they should go into the garden.

"Elsie, run up to my room and fetch some shawls; the evening is quite
chilly."