Reginald troubled Phyllis much by declaring that nothing should induce him to kiss his nephew, and she was terribly shocked by the indifference with which Eleanor treated his neglect, even when it branched out into abuse of babies in general, and in particular of Henry’s bald head and turned-up nose.

In the evening of Wednesday Phyllis was sitting with Ada in the nursery, when Reginald came up with the news that the party downstairs were going to practise country dances.  Eleanor was to play, Claude was to dance with Lily, and Frank with Jane, and he himself wanted Phyllis for a partner.

‘Oh!’ sighed Ada, ’I wish I was there to dance with you, Redgie!  What are the others doing?’

’Maurice is reading, and William went out as soon as dinner was over; make haste, Phyl.’

‘Don’t go,’ said Ada, ’I shall be alone all to-morrow, and I want you.’

‘Nonsense,’ said Reginald, ’do you think she is to sit poking here all day, playing with those foolish London things of yours?’

’But I am ill, Redgie.  I wish you would not be cross.  Everybody is cross to me now, I think.’

‘I will stay, Ada,’ said Phyllis.  ’You know, Redgie, I dance like a cow.’

‘You dance better than nothing,’ said Reginald, ‘I must have you.’

‘But you are not ill, Redgie,’ said Phyllis.

He went down in displeasure, and was forced to consider Sir Maurice’s picture as his partner, until presently the door opened, and Phyllis appeared.  ‘So you have thought better of it,’ cried he.

‘No,’ said Phyllis, ’I cannot come to dance, but Ada wants you to leave off playing.  She says the music makes her unhappy, for it makes her think about to-morrow.’

‘Rather selfish, Miss Ada,’ said Claude.

‘Stay here, Phyllis, now you are come,’ said Mr. Mohun, ’I will go and speak to Ada.’

Phyllis was now captured, and made to take her place opposite to Reginald; but more than once she sighed under the apprehension that Ada was receiving a lecture.  This was the case; and very little did poor Ada comprehend the change that had taken place in the conduct of almost every one towards her; she did not perceive that she was particularly naughty, and yet she had suddenly become an object of blame, instead of a spoiled pet.  Formerly her little slynesses had been unnoticed, and her overbearing ways towards Phyllis scarcely remarked, but now they were continually mentioned as grievous faults.  Esther, her especial friend and comforter, was scarcely allowed to come into the same room with her; Hannah treated her with a kind of grave, silent respect, far from the familiarity which she liked; little Henry’s nurse never would talk to her, and if it had not been for Phyllis, she would have been very miserable.  On Phyllis, however, she repaid herself for all the mortifications that she received, while the sweet-tempered little girl took all her fretfulness and exactions as results of her illness, and went on pitying her, and striving to please her.