hed (very considerably) in the time of CHARLES THE SECOND, she
had not kept up her Carolian English. It is possible that the chit-chat
under her frame by the fire-place had corrupted the purity of her--to an
antiquary--interesting lingo. Be this as it may, she glided down the
large and handsome staircase, and selecting the furred and hooded coat
of a member who had just returned from abroad, annexed it.

"This will do nicely," she murmured; "quite the mode," a remark which
proved that she had seen no fashion-plates lying on the Club table, and,
therefore, was entirely ignorant of the modern mysteries of ladies'
dress. However, she passed in the crowd--partly because no one appeared
to notice her. A Lady from a portrait by Sir PETER LELY without her
frame and background, after all, is rather a shadowy creation.

When she had turned from Garrick Street into St. Martin's Lane, she
looked about her in surprise. What had been fields when she was in the
flesh were now sites of houses. She glided along, perplexed to a degree,
until she got to Charing Cross; then she recognised the statue of
CHARLES THE FIRST, and what was standing of White Hall.

"By my troth, this is not an improvement! Houses, houses, nothing but
houses! I will e'en take the water to Chelsea, and see the hospital I
persuaded ROWLEY to give to his poor soldiers. There should be some
stairs hereabouts."

But if the Lady did not find stairs, she came across a landing-stage.
She got on to the Westminster Pier, and was soon aboard one of the best
vessels of the Victoria Steamboat Association, Limited. Within half an
hour or so she was landed opposite the building it had been her
privilege to secure for the benefit of the British Army. The place was
brave with bunting. There were enormous sheds full of battle pictures
and portraits, and in the grounds was an arena suitable for the holding
of military sports. Then there was a huge band-stand, and the electric
light was laid on with great liberality in the gardens.

"Gad'sooks!" exclaimed the Lady of the Picture; "and what are they doing
in the precincts of Chelsea Hospital?"

She was immediately supplied with information. A Military Exhibition was
being held in aid of the Church of England Institutes--establishments
(so she was told) of a strictly unsectarian character. The
entertainments would be of a most popular character,--weather
permitting, _al fresco_. The commissariat would be excellent. In one
place