ever met.''

Miss Langham's eyes were hidden by the masses of her black hair
that she had shaken over her face, and she said nothing.

``And I liked the way he shut Reggie King up too,'' continued
Hope, stoutly, ``when he and father were talking that way about
Madame Alvarez.''

``Yes, upon my word,'' exclaimed her sister, impatiently tossing
her hair back over her shoulders. ``I really cannot see that
Madame Alvarez is in need of any champion. I thought Mr. Clay
made it very much worse by rushing in the way he did. Why should
he take it upon himself to correct a man as old as my father?''

``I suppose because Madame Alvarez is a friend of his,'' Hope
answered.

``My dear child, a beautiful woman can always find some man to
take her part,'' said Miss Langham. ``But I've no doubt,'' she
added, rising and kissing her sister good-night, ``that he is all
that your Captain Stuart thinks him; but he is not going to keep
us awake any longer, is he, even if he does show such gallant
interest in old ladies?''

``Old ladies!'' exclaimed Hope in amazement.

``Why, Alice!''

But her sister only laughed and waved her out of the room, and