“It is two months, Pauline,” he said; “and are you well?” And though I only said that I was well and was very glad to see him, I am sure his sister Sophie thought that it was something more, for she had followed him up the steps and stood in the doorway looking at us.

The others came up there, and Kilian, as soon as he could get out of the meshes of the blue organdie, came to me, and tried to out-devotion Richard.

That is the way with men.  He had not taken any trouble to get away from Mary Leighton till Richard came.

A young woman only needs one lover very much in earnest, to bring about her several others, not so much, perhaps, in earnest, but very amusing and instructive.  Richard went away very quickly, for I am sure he did not like that sort of thing.

It was soon necessary for Mr. Kilian to suspend his devotion and go to his room to get ready for tea.

When we all assembled again, at the table, I found that he had placed himself beside me, next his sister, little Benny having gone to bed.

“Of course, the head of the table belongs to Richard; I never interfere there, and as everybody else is placed, this is the only seat that I can take, following the rose and thorn principle.”

“But that principle is not followed strictly,” cried Charlotte Benson, who sat by Mary Leighton.  “Here are two roses and no thorn.”

“Ah!  What a strange oversight,” he exclaimed, seating himself nevertheless.  “The only way to remedy it will be to put the tutor in your place, Miss Benson, and you come opposite Miss Pauline.  Quick; before he comes and refuses to move his Teutonic bones an inch.”  Charlotte Benson changed her seat and the vacant one was left between her and Mary Leighton.

This is the order of our seats, for that and many following happy nights and days: 

           Richard,

Mary Leighton, Henrietta,
The Tutor, Mr. Eugene Whitney,
Charlotte Benson, Myself,
Charley, Kilian,
           Sophie.

Mary Leighton looked furious and could hardly speak a word all through the meal.  It was particularly hard upon her, as the tutor did not come, and the chair was empty, and a glaring insult to her all the time.

Kilian had done his part so innocently and so simply that it was hard to suspect him of any intention to pique her and annoy Richard, but I am sure he did it with just those two intentions.  He was as thorough a flirt as any woman, and withal very fond of change, and I think my pink grenadine quite dazzled him as I stood on the piazza.  Then came the brotherly and quite natural desire to outshine Richard and put things out a little.  I liked it all very much, and was charmed to be of so much consequence, for I saw all this quite plainly.  I laughed and talked a good deal with Kilian; he was delightful to laugh and talk with.  Even Eugene Whitney found me more worth his weak attention than the beautiful and placid Henrietta.