y assorted party met at dinner
than that which gathered in the Hotel Kursaal under the social wing of
Mrs. de la Vere. Her husband, while being coached in essentials, was
the first to discover its incongruities.

"Where Miss Wynton is concerned, you are warned off," his wife told
him dryly. "You must console yourself with Mrs. Badminton-Smythe. She
will stand anything to cut out a younger and prettier woman."

"Where do you come in, Edie?" said he; for Mrs. de la Vere's delicate
aristocratic beauty seemed to be the natural complement of her
sporting style, and to-night there was a wistful charm in her face
that the lively Reginald had not seen there before.

She turned aside, busying herself with her toilet. "I don't come in.
I went out five years ago," she cried, with a mocking laugh.

"Do you know," he muttered, "I often wonder why the deuce you an' I
got married."

"Because, sweet Reginald, we were made for each other by a wise
Providence. What other woman of your acquaintance would tolerate
you--as a husband?"

"Oh, dash it all! if it comes to that----"

"For goodness' sake, don't fuss, or begin to think. Run away and
interview the head waiter. Then you are to buttonhole Bower and the
American. I am just sending a chit to the Badminton-Smythes."

"Who is my partner?"

"Lulu, of course."

De la Vere was puzzled, and looked it. "I suppose it is all right," he
growled. "Still, I can't help thinking you've got something up your
sleeve, Edie."

She stamped a very pretty foot angrily. "Do as I tell you! Didn't
you hear what Bower said? He will be everlastingly obliged to us for
coming to the rescue in this fashion. Next time you have a flutter in
the city, his friendship may be useful."

"By gad!" cried Reginald, beginning, as he fancied, to see light,
"something seems to have bitten you this evening. Tell you what--Lulu
is a non-runner. Get Bower to put you on to a soft thing in Africans,
an' you an' I will have a second honeymoon in Madeira next winter.
Honor bright! I mean it."

She seized a silver mounted brush from the dressing table with the
obvious intent of speeding his departure. He dodged out, and strolled
down the corridor.

"Never saw Edie in that sort of tantrum before," he said to himself.
"If she only knew how sick I was of all this jolly rot, p'r'aps we'd
run better in double harness."

So it came to pass, when the company assembled in the great dining
room, that Bower sat on Mrs. de l