Lippa | Page 4

was lost.'
'Yes,' replies Philippa, 'I knew all about her; you see your father is my
brother, so of course I know all about you.'
'Not everything,' says Teddy, confidently, 'you don't know that I'm
feeling rather empty, not 'xactly hungry but as if I could eat my tea.'
'Well, I dare say it is time to go in,' says his aunt, 'and if you will cease
to sit on my feet I will get up.'
Teddy rises with alacrity, and not till they get to the square gate do they
remember they have not got the key. 'How tiresome,' ejaculates
Philippa.
But Teddy who is always full of resources, departs in the hope of
finding Joseph or some one who has a key, but alas they are the only
occupants of the square, what is to be done. They stand gazing
helplessly over the gate, Philippa looking uncommonly pretty in a light

gown that fits to perfection, and her large black hat adorned with red
poppies, 'I wonder who she is,' thinks a gentleman who has already
passed them twice, and is contemplating turning back to see her again.
But he hears his name called in a shrill voice, 'Captain Harkness,
Cap-ta-i-n H-a-r-kness!' He turns round hastily and sees Teddy waving
frantically over the gate.
'Well, little boy,' he says, 'what is the matter? eh!'
'We can't get out, Aunt Lippa and I, we've forgotten the key, do go to
mother and ask her for it.'
Captain Harkness turns to Philippa and raising his hat, says, 'I shall be
very pleased if I can be of any service to you, I was just on my way to
see Mrs Seaton.'
'If you could get the key,' replies she, 'it would be most kind.'
'Not at all,' says he, still wondering who she is, 'I will not be long,' and
he is as good as his word, reappearing with the key and setting them
free, when they return to Brook Street.
'My dear child,' says Mabel, addressing Lippa, as they enter the
drawing-room, 'how very foolish of you to lock yourselves up like that.
I was getting quite uneasy about you, but come and have some tea, and
you Teddy go upstairs to yours, Captain Harkness now let me introduce
you properly to my sister-in-law.'
Philippa smiles and Captain Harkness congratulates himself on his
afternoon adventure.
Eleven o'clock sees Mabel and Philippa on their way to the ball, not
having been to many she has not become blasée, but enjoys herself
thoroughly. It is still early when they reach their destination, and Mrs
Seaton is enabled to find a seat in a good place for seeing, almost
opposite the door. Lady Dadford followed by her daughter soon puts in
an appearance and makes for them at once.

'Well, Mabel, my dear,' she begins, 'so glad to have found you here,
how do you do, Philippa, you are not done up yet, I see, and you look
charming, what a sweet dress you have, and I do believe you have not
been introduced to my boy yet, I am afraid he isn't coming here to-night,
he's such a dear boy, my Helmdon, I'm sure you will like him. But
where's Anne, ah! dancing already, the dear child, she does do it so
well,' and with a benign smile on her kind old face, Lady Dadford seats
herself by Mabel.
Miss Seaton's partners claim her one after the other; they have very
little individuality to her, of course some are better dancers than the
others, but caring for one more than another, would be quite impossible
she tells herself. Why is it then that suddenly as she catches sight of a
certain brown head in the doorway, she smiles, and when the owner
comes towards her feels just a little thrill of pleasure.
Ah! Miss Seaton let me warn you, don't pretend to care for none of
them, for that thrill does not come without some cause, and almost
before you are aware of it, you will find that your heart is not your own,
you know quite well that Jimmy Dalrymple has found favour in your
eyes, and you know too, that with very little trouble you could bewitch
him. Do not play with edged tools.
Lippa waltzes off with him through the crowded room and just a little
sigh escapes her as the music stops.
'Where would you like to go to?' asks he. 'To supper or the garden?'
'Oh, the garden,' says Miss Seaton, 'fancy naming them together.
Supper is such a very prosaic affair,' and then as they enter the garden,
'One could almost imagine oneself miles away from London here.'
'They have arranged it awfully well,' says Dalrymple, gazing round on
the illuminated parterres, and then, 'would you like