4b A Mental Strugejle,
him, in spite of his unlimited thousands. I bless my stars
that / was not born with aristocratic tendencies, Is he
passable ?"
" He is very handsome," replies Lady Olivia, seeing
Imogen will not open her lips upon the subject.
" Young—rich—handsome ! Ye gods ! what more can
you -svant ? " cries SyMa gaily. " With your permission,
Lady Oli-yia, and ivithout Patricia's, I shall certainly make
my bow to this young man. Why, he will be quite a god¬
send in this barren countryside ! "
She is still laughing when the door opens, and Sandie
Heriot comes into the room.
"Sylvia! you!" cries he-with undisguised delight. "I
never anticipated such a happy surprise when I came here
in search of------What has restored you to us so soon ? Is
it you indeed in the very flesh ?"
" There isn't much flesh," says Sylvia mournfully.
" That ' old man eloquent' wore me to skin and bone.
Alas ! what a tongue he has! It beats mine all to
nothing. That will give yotr some idea of its staying
power. I found in the long run I couldn't stand any
more of it, so I came home, as much to his relief as my
own."
" I can readily believe tlutf.^' murmurs Sandie innocently;
but with a perspicacity that belies his innocence, he makes
a careful detour that places a round table between her and
him.
" There is a limit even to im[sertinence, and you have
reached yours," says ]Miss Yelverton, in a slow and
solemn tone, regarding him witi^ an eye full of fell deter¬
mination. " On guard, Sandie I for vengeance dire and
swift is descending upon you. Lady Olivia, with your
permi.ssion ! "
She makes a spring at the doomed Sandie, and round
and round the table they go for several minutes, she in
hot pursuit, he in as hot desire to escape her if he can.
Having chased him at last into a corner, she laj'S her
pretty gloved hands about his ears with right good will
until he has cried " Peccavi !" a score of times; and then
she desists, and looks up to fin4 Felix Brown regarding
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