"Dear Mrs. Snowdon, are you so charmed with the birds that you forget
your fellow-beings, or so charmed with one fellow-being that you forget
the birds?"

As the sudden question startled both, Rose Talbot came along the
terrace, with hands full of holly and a face full of merry mischief,
adding as she vanished, "I shall tell Tavie that feeding the
peacocks is such congenial amusement for lovers, she and Mr. Annon
had better try it."

"Saucy gypsy!" muttered Treherne.

But Mrs. Snowdon said, with a smile of double meaning, "Many a true word
is spoken in jest."




Chapter V


UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Unusually gay and charming the three young friends looked, dressed
alike in fleecy white with holly wreaths in their hair, as they
slowly descended the wide oaken stairway arm in arm. A footman was
lighting the hall lamps, for the winter dusk gathered early, and the
girls were merrily chatting about the evening's festivity when
suddenly a loud, long shriek echoed through the hall. A heavy glass