Shyly but eagerly the girl assented, and richly rewarded was she in her own estimate by what the visitor had to tell.  More gossip of court, of the lesser world of fashion, and of the theatre, he retailed:  how the king walked and looked, of the rivalry between Mrs. Barry and Mrs. Baddeley, of Charles Fox’s debts and eloquence, of the vogue of Cecilia Davis, or “L’Inglesina.”  To Janice, hungry with the true appetite of provincialism, it was all the most delicious of comfits.  To talk to a man who could imitate the way the Duke of Gloucester limped at a levee when suffering from the gout, and who was able to introduce a story by saying, “As Lady Rochford once said to me at one of her routs—­” was almost like meeting those distinguished beings themselves.  Janice not merely failed to note that the man paid no heed whatever to the land they strolled over, but herself ceased to give time or direction the slightest thought.

“Oh!” she broke out finally, in her delight, “won’t Tibbie be sorry when she knows what she’s missed?  And, forsooth, a proper pay out for her wrong-doing it is!”

“What mean ye by that?” questioned Evatt.

“She deserves to have it known, but though she called me tattle-tale, I’m no such thing,” replied Janice, who in truth was still hot with indignation at Miss Drinker, and wellnigh bursting to confide her grievance against her whilom friend to this most delightful of men.  “Doubtless, you observed that we are not on terms.  That was why I came off without her.”

Evatt, though not till this moment aware of the fact, nodded his head gravely.

“’T is all her doings, though she’d be glad enough to make it up if I would let her.  A fine frenzy her ladyship would be in, too, if she dreamt he’d given me the miniature.”

“A miniature!” marvelled the visitor, encouragingly.  “Of whom?”

“’T is just what—­Oh, I think I’ll tell thee the whole tale and get thy advice.  I dare not go to mommy, for I know she’d make me give it up, and dadda being away, and Tibbie in a snip-snap, I have no one to—­and perhaps—­I’d never tell thee to shame Tibbie, but because I need advice and—­”

“A man with half an eye would know you were no tale-bearer, Miss Janice,” her companion assured her.

Thus prompted and enticed, the girl poured out the whole story.  “I wish I could show you the picture,” she ended.  “She is the most beautiful creature I ever saw.”

“Hast never looked in a mirror, Miss Janice?”

“Now thou ’t just teasing.”

“I’ faith, ’t is the last thought in my mind,” said Evatt, heartily.

“You really think me pretty?” questioned the girl, with evident delight if uncertainty.

Evatt studied the eager, guileless face questioningly turned to him, and had much ado to keep from smiling.

“’T is impossible not to think it,” he replied.

“Even after seeing the court beauties?” demanded Janice, half doubtful and half joyous.