s."

"Wouldn't you have a theatre?" asked Mrs. White.

"There might be, if the circumstances admitted. But with a billiard-room
and a ball-room--"

"And a snug crib for smoking," whispered one of the military.

"I don't see any better style of house," said Linton, gravely, "than
those great hotels one finds on the Rhine, and in Germany generally.
They have ample accommodation, and are so divided that you can have your
own suite of rooms to yourself."

"Mathews used to keep house after that fashion," said Lord Kilgoff,
approaching the table. "Every one ordered his own dinner, and eat it
either in his own apartment or in the dining-room. You were invited for
four days, never more."

"That was a great error; except in that particular, I should recommend
the plan to Mr. Roland Cashel's consideration."

"I never heard of it before," said Cashel; "pray enlighten me on the
subject."

"A very respectable country gentleman, sir," said Lord Kilgoff, "who had
the whim to see his company without paying what he deemed the heaviest
penalty,--the fatigue of playing host. He therefore invited his
friends to come and do what they pleased,--eat, drink, drive, ride,
play,--exactly as they fancied; only never to notice him otherwise than
as one of the guests."

"I like his notion prodigiously," cried Cashel; "I should be delighted
to imitate him."

"Nothing easier, sir," said my Lord, "with Mr. Linton for your prime
minister; the administration is perfectly practicable."

"Might I venture on such a liberty?"

"Too happy to be president of your council," said Linton, gayly.

A very entreating kind of look from Olivia Kennyfeck here met Cashel's
eyes, and he remarked that she left the place beside the table and
walked into the other room; he himself, although dying to follow her,
had no alternative but to remain and continue the conversation.

"The first point, then," resumed Linton, "is the house. In what state is
your present mansion?"

"A ruin, I believe," said Cashel.

"How picturesque!" exclaimed Mrs. Leicester White.

"I fancy not, madam," rejoined Cashel. "I understand it is about the
least prepossessing bit of stone and mortar the country can exhibit."

"No matter, let us see it; we 'll improvise something, and get it ready
for the Christmas holidays," said Linton. "We have--let us see--we have
about two months for our preparation, and, therefore, no time to lose.
We must premise to the honorable company that o