A man from New York had taken possession of the Legation, but what he would do with it was not within the foresight of the wisest; trom the talk of the young members of his Legation, Lord Skye gathered that the entire city was to be roofed in and forty millions of people expected, but his own concern in the affair was limited to the flowers he hoped to receive.
"All young and beautiful women," said he to Sybil, "are to send me flowers.

I prefer Jacqueminot roses, but will accept any handsome variety, provided they are not wired.

It is diplomatic etiquette that each lady who sends me flowers shall reserve at least one dance for me.
You will please inscribe this at once upon your tablets, Miss Ross." To Madeleine this ball was a godsend, for it came just in time to divert Sybil's mind from its troubles.

A week had now passed since that revelation of Sybil's heart which had come like an earthquake upon Mrs.Lee.Since then Sybil had been nervous and irritable, all the more because she was conscious of being watched.

She was in secret ashamed of her own conduct, and inclined to be angry with Carrington, as though he were responsible for her foolishness; but she could not talk with Madeleine on the subject without discussing Mr.Ratcliffe, and Carrington had expressly forbidden her to attack Mr.Ratcliffe until it was clear that Ratcliffe had laid himself open to attack.