"Indeed, indeed they must not. It is not right or safe to make such
a serious matter of my foolish nervousness. I am not sure there was
any one there! It was probably an optical delusion. I was plunged in
a reverie, thinking of happy, peaceful, lovely things"--with the
sickly feint of a meaning smile into his face--"and, happening to
look at the window, I fancied that I saw"--with all her self-command
her voice failed here, and she put her hand before her eyes for a
moment before she could go on--"I thought I saw--SOMETHING! It may
have been a human face--it may have been the shadow of the curtains,
or the reflection of the lights upon the glass; but it startled me,
appearing so abruptly. Please say no more about it. If it was a
living creature, it must have been one of the servants, tempted by
curiosity to peep at the dancers."

"It will prove to be a costly indulgence to him, if I can discover
who the rascal was," said Mr. Aylett, decisively. "I would not have
had you so startled for the worth of all the lazy hounds on the
premises."

His wife laid her hand upon his.

"It is Christmas night, my love, and the poor fellow is excusable.
He showed excellent taste. It was a very pretty scene. I shall not
soon forgive myself for throwing it into such 'admired disorder.'
Miss Scott"--[to a musical spinster]--"may I tax your politeness so
far as to ask you to take my seat at the piano? I must go to my room
for a few minutes," raising her finger smilingly to her displaced
ivy wreath. "If you would testify your tolerance of my folly, please
go on with your amusement. I shall be encouraged to return when I