old friend
for a new one."

"Not though the new friend be as lovely as Miss Boncassen?"

"I don't know that I ever saw a prettier girl," said Tregear.

"I quite admit it," said Lady Mabel. "But that is no salve for my
injured feelings I have heard so much about Miss Boncassen's beauty
for the last week, that I mean to get up a company of British
females, limited, for the express purpose of putting her down. Who is
Miss Boncassen that we are all to be put on one side for her?"

Of course he knew that she was joking, but he hardly knew how to take
her joke. There is a manner of joking which carries with it much
serious intention. He did feel that Lady Mabel was not gracious to
him because he had spent half an hour with this new beauty, and he
was half inclined to be angry with her. Was it fitting that she
should be cross with him, seeing that he was resolved to throw at
her feet all the good things that he had in the world? "Bother Miss
Boncassen," he said; "you might as well come and take a turn with a
fellow."

"Come along, Miss Cassewary," said she. "We will go round the
haycocks yet once again." So they turned and the two ladies
accompanied Lord Silverbridge.

But this was not what he wanted. He could not say what he had to say
in the presence of Miss Cassewary,--nor could he ask her to take
herself off in another direction. Nor could he take himself off. Now
that he had joined himself to these two ladies he must make with them
the tour of the gardens. All this made him cross. "These kind of
things are a great bore," he said.

"I dare say you would rather be in the House of Commons;--or, better
still, at the Beargarden."

"You mean to be ill-natured when you say that, Lady Mab."

"You ask us to come and walk with you, and then you tell us that we
are bores!"

"I did nothing of the kind."

"I should have thought that you would be particularly pleased with
yourself for coming here to-day, seeing that you have made Miss
Boncassen's acquaintance. To be allowed to walk half an hour alone
with the acknowledged beauty of the two hemispheres ought to be
enough even for Lord Silverbridge."

"That is nonsense, Lady Mab."

"Nothing gives so much zest to admiration as novelty. A republican
charmer must be exciting after all the blasees habituees of the
London drawing-rooms."

"How can you talk such nonsense, Mabel?" said Miss Cassewary.

"But it is so. I feel that people must be sick of seeing me. I know I