really took the character in order to do you a kindly turn, it will be very ungrateful of you to damage his reputation.”

“Then, you allow,” said Kitty, with her head thrown back, “that it is damaging?”

“I think he has done a thing which might tell against him immensely; but I don’t think a scrap the worse of him myself. There!” said Bell.

Kitty was silent, but there was that in her face which did not satisfy the other girl.

“I believe you are dreadfully unforgiving,” she said. As she spoke, she walked to the window and knelt on the low window-seat. Kitty followed her, looking pale.

“Bell, I really am vexed. I think it is particularly unfortunate,” she said. “You know that it has cost father a great deal to let me have my way, and make a profession of my painting; there have been a dozen lions in the way at least. But such a lion as this never entered our heads. Don’t you see that if he hears of a gentleman dressing up and coming here as a model, there will be an end of everything? Supposing, even, that it is as you say, a mere good-natured freak, do you think that he is likely to understand it in that light?”

There was a pause; then Bell said slowly—

“And yet you would tell him?”

The girl’s colour rose.

“Yes,” she said very proudly; “whatever comes of it, he shall never say that I have deceived him. I shall tell mother, and she will do what is best.”

“Whenever,” murmured her companion—“whenever you sweet-tempered people take the bit between your teeth, I have noticed that it is absolutely hopeless to attempt to turn you. Well. Kitty, since you are determined to set a torch to the gunpowder, I hope we shan’t all go up with the explosion. My father is good for a magnificent fizz. I hear him now in the passage.”

Another moment saw him in the room, and with him came Mrs Lascelles, a large, kindly-faced woman, in whose brown eyes gleamed the same clear brightness which met you in her daughter’s. The old colonel was as stormily benevolent as usual.

“So you gave me the slip after all, eh, Miss Bell? I’ve just been telling your godmother that she hasn’t brought you up well; little Kitty here would never dare to be so undutiful. Eh? I met your precious rascal of an Italian close by here; can’t think how you 

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