Zoe, from crimson, blushed scarlet, and hung her head; but Fanny was
ready.

"La! aunt," said she, ironically, and with pertness infinite, "you know
you are always welcome. Where ever have you been all this time? We were
afraid we had lost you."

Aunt fired her pistol in reply: "I was not far off--most fortunately."

Zoe, finding that, even under crushing circumstances, Fanny had fight in
her, glided instantly to her side, and Aunt Maitland opened battle all
round.

"May I ask, sir," said she to Severne, with a horrible smile, "what you
were doing when I came in?"

Zoe clutched Fanny, and both awaited Mr. Severne's reply for one moment
with keen anxiety.

"My dear Miss Maitland," said that able young man, very respectfully, yet
with a sort of cheerful readiness, as if he were delighted at her
deigning to question him, "to tell you the truth, I was admiring Miss
Vizard's diamond ring."

Fanny tittered; Zoe blushed again at such a fib and such _aplomb._

"Oh, indeed," said Miss Maitland; "you were admiring it very close, sir."

"It is like herself--it will bear inspection."