“Here’s a perfectly disinterested person, Lizzie dear,” said the knowing Miss Wren, “come to talk with you, for your own sake and your brother’s. Think of that. I am sure there ought to be no third party present at anything so very kind and so very serious; and so, if you’ll remove the third party upstairs, my dear, the third party will retire.”

Lizzie took the hand which the dolls’ dressmaker held out to her for the purpose of being supported away, but only looked at her with an inquiring smile, and made no other movement.

“The third party hobbles awfully, you know, when she’s left to herself;” said Miss Wren, “her back being so bad, and her legs so queer; so she can’t retire gracefully unless you help her, Lizzie.”

“She can do no better than stay where she is,” returned Lizzie, releasing the hand, and laying her own lightly on Miss Jenny’s curls. And then to Bradley: “From Charley, sir?”