to-night--with Philo as second assistant? You and the Gay Lady are
tired out. Miss Azalea can tell me what to do, and I'll promise to
do it faithfully."

He had not the face to look at the guest as he made this daring
suggestion. His audacity took my breath away so completely that I could
make no rejoinder, but the Gay Lady came to the rescue. I don't know
whether she had seen Azalea's face, but I had.

"I have a surprise for to-night," said she, picking up a trayful of
china, "and I don't intend anybody shall interfere with it. Nobody is
even to mention dinner in my presence."

The Skeptic took the tray away from her. "There are some other things I
should like to mention in your presence," said he, so softly that I
think nobody heard him but myself, who was nearest. "And one of them is
that somebody I know never looked sweeter than she does this----"

I rattled the saucers in the pan that nobody might catch it. The Gay
Lady was colouring so brilliantly that I feared the Skeptic might drop
the tray, for he was not looking at all where he was going. But she
disappeared into the pantry, and there was nothing left for him to do
but to place the tray on the shelf outside, ready for her to take the
contents in through the window.

* * * * *

The Gay Lady put me upon my own bed, tucked me up, drew the curtains,
and left me to my nap. She left a kiss on my cheek also, and as she
dropped it there I thought of the Skeptic again--I don't know why. I