I also committed a blunder at starting--I offered Lucilla my hand to lead her.

She burst out laughing.
"My dear Madame Pratolungo! I know my way better than you do.

I roam all over the neighborhood, with nothing to help me but this." She held up a smart ivory walking-cane, with a bright silk tassel attached.

With her cane in one hand, and her chemical bottle in the other--and her roguish little hat on the top of her head--she made the quaintest and prettiest picture I had seen for many a long day.

"_You_ shall guide _me_, my dear," I said--and took her arm.