Then Mr. Coventry came out strong.  He was mortified, he was jealous; he saw a formidable enemy had entered the field, and had just outwitted and out-maneuvered him.  So what does he do but step up to her, and say to her, with the most respectful grace, “May I be permitted to welcome you back to this part of the world?  I am afraid I can not exactly claim your acquaintance; but I have often heard my father speak of you with the highest admiration.  My name is Coventry.”

“Mr. Coventry, of Bollinghope?” (He bowed.) “Yes; I had the pleasure of knowing your mother in former days.”

“You, have deserted us too long.”

“I do not flatter myself I have been missed.”

“Is anybody ever missed, Mrs. Little?  Believe me, few persons are welcomed back so cordially as you are.”

“That is very flattering, Mr. Coventry.  It is for my son’s sake I have returned to society.”

“No doubt; but you will remain there for your own.  Society is your place.  You are at home in it, and were born to shine in it.”

“What makes you think that, pray?” and the widow’s cheek flushed a little.

“Oh, Mrs. Little, I have seen something of the world.  Count me amongst your most respectful admirers.  It is a sentiment I have a right to, since I inherit it.”

“Well, Mr. Coventry, then I give you leave to admire me—­if you can.  Ah, here they come.  Two minutes!  I am afraid it was neither gossip nor flirtation, but only botany.”

Grace and Henry came back, looking very radiant.

“What do you think?” said Grace, “I never was more surprised in my life, there really is a cactus, and a night cereus into the bargain.  Mrs. Little, behold a penitent.  I bring you my apology, and a jardenia.”

“Oh, how sweet!  Never mind the apology.  Quarrel with me often, and bring me a jardenia.  I’ll always make it up on those terms.”

“Miss White,” said Grace, pompously, “I shall require a few dozen cuttings from your tree, please tell the gardener.  Arrangements are such, I shall have to grow jardenias on a scale hitherto unprecedented.”

There was a laugh, and, in the middle of it, a servant announced Miss Carden’s carriage.

“What attentive servants you have, Miss White.  I requested that man to be on the watch, and, if I said a good thing, to announce my carriage directly; and he did it pat.  Now see what an effective exit that gives me.  Good-by, Miss White, good-by, Mrs. Little; may you all disappear as neatly.”

Mr. Coventry stepped smartly forward, and offered her his arm with courteous deference; she took it, and went down with him, but shot over his shoulder a side-glance of reproach at Little, for not being so prompt as his rival.

“What spirits!” said a young lady.

“Yes,” said another; “but she was as dull as the grave last time I met her.”

So ended that evening, with its little ups and downs.