al blank, so still that the Japanese lanterns
scarcely swung on their strings among the apple-trees, and the
leaves almost forgot to rustle. From the tent in the corner of the
little garden (little, but large for a garden in London) the quaint,
rapturous music of the Hungarian band floated in fitful
extravagance, now wildly dominating, now graciously accompanying the
murmur of many voices, the mingled pace of feet, and the lingering
sweep of silken skirts upon the shadowed grass. The light streamed
in broad, electric rays from the open windows of the low, wide
house, and from the tall double doors of the studio, which had been
added at the side, broken continually by the silhouettes of guests
who entered the rooms or sought the cooler air outside, and dulling
to the quiet glow of old stained glass the rich radiance of the
fantastic coloured lanterns.

It was one of the series of summer evenings on which, according to
the cards which had been so widely circulated, Mr. and Mrs.
Lightmark were "at home" to their friends and to their friends'
friends; and Rainham, who was a late arrival at the elaborate house
in Grove Road, was able after a time to recognise many familiar
faces, some of them almost forgotten, among those who had elected to
be present. The rooms, in spite of the outlet afforded by the
garden, were all surprisingly full; and after a hurried exchange of
greetings, which Eve's duties as hostess had compelled her to
curtail, he had passed through a jungle of brilliant toilettes and
unfamiliar figures into the newly-built, bright studio, where he had
been told that he would find his friend. He had abundant leisure to
corroborate the first impression of a splendour for which he was
hardly prepared, which had seized him when he entered the hall and
surrendered his coat to a courteous servant in livery, before
Lightmark, radiant and flushed with success, singled him out in the
corner to which he had retreated in loneliness.

"So glad to see you, old man! we were hoping you would turn up.
Better late than never. Isn't it a crush? I assure you our evenings
are becoming quite an institution. You will find scores of people
you know here. Excuse my leaving you. Not much like the old
studio days, eh? Afternoon tea with Copal's cups and saucers, and
Mrs. Thingumy's tea-cakes. Your friend Lady Garnett is here
somewhere--I'll be shot if I know where. Try the garden; you can
get out this way. See you again later."

"All