With his own hands he afterwards put on the dessert, as remarking to the three guests, “The period has now arrived at which we can dispense with the assistance of those fellows who are not in our confidence,” and would have retired with complete dignity but for a daring action issuing from the misguided brain of the young man on liking. He finding, by ill-fortune, a piece of orange flower somewhere in the lobbies now approached undetected with the same in a finger-glass, and placed it on Bella’s right hand. The Archbishop instantly ejected and excommunicated him; but the thing was done.

“I trust, madam,” said his Grace, returning alone, “that you will have the kindness to overlook it, in consideration of its being the act of a very young man who is merely here on liking, and who will never answer.”

With that, he solemnly bowed and retired, and they all burst into laughter, long and merry. “Disguise is of no use,” said Bella; “they all find me out; I think it must be, Pa and John dear, because I look so happy!”