Just what did father mean by that?

But she was having too good a time to wonder long. Too good a time
to remember whether or not it was in the baronial spirit. She was
entirely uncritical when, the time for good nights finally at hand,
Mr. Brown said to her:

"Well, a fine time was had by all! I guess I "don't have to tell YOU
that--what?"

Archibald Chesney would never have put it that way. Yet Missy, with
Mr. Brown's eyes upon her in an openly admiring gaze, wouldn't have
had him changed one bit.

But, when at last sleep came to her in her little white bed, on the
silvery tide of the moon, it carried a dream to slip up under the
tight-closed eyes. . .

The ball is at its height. The door of the conservatory opens and a
fair young creature steals in. She is fairer than the flowers
themselves as, with a pretty consciousness of her own grace, she
advances into the bower. Her throat is fair and rounded under the
diamonds that are no brighter than her own great grey eyes; her nut-
brown locks lie in heavy masses on her well-shaped head, while
across her forehead a few rebellious tresses wantonly wander.

She suddenly sees in the shadows that other figure which has started
perceptibly at her entrance; a tall and eminently gloomy figure,
with hair of a rare blackness, and eyes dark and insouciant but