zlement.

"Matrimonial Stakes, then," continued the irrepressible Marquis. "You
see, Bet, we are all riding in this race for you and it has been ruled
that----"

"My lady," sighed the soulful Sir Jasper, "it hath been agreed that
whoso indites the worthiest screed to your beauty, he whose poor verses
shall be judged most worthy shall be awarded three clear days wherein
to plead his suit with thee, to humbly sigh, to sue, to----"

"A clear field and no favour, my lady!" the Marquis added.

"And," sighed Sir Jasper, "thrice happy mortal he who shall be
privileged to call thee 'wife'!"

"Indeed, indeed," laughed my lady, "'tis vastly, excellently quaint----"

"My idea!" said the Captain, shooting his ruffles. "Came to me--in a
moment--like a flash!"

"Though truly," she sighed, "I do begin to think I ne'er shall wed and
be doomed to lead apes in hell as they say--unless for a penance I
marry Mr. Dalroyd or--Major d'Arcy! But come," she continued, smiling
down their many protests and rising, "let us into the garden, 'tis
shady on the lawn, we'll act a charade! Sir Jasper, your hand, pray."
Thereupon, with a prodigious fluttering of lace ruffles, the flash of
jewelled sword-hilts and shoe-buckles, the sheen of rich satins and
velvets, the gallant company escorted my lady into the garden and
across the smooth lawn.

"'Tis a pert and naughty puss!" exclaimed Lady Belinda, studying the
Major's downcast face, "Indeed a graceless, heartless piece, sir!"

"Er--yes, mam," he answered abstractedly.

"A very wicked and irreverent baggage, Major!"

"Certainly, mam."

"Indeed, dear sir, what with her airy graces and her graceless airs I
do shudder for her future, my very soul positively--shivers!"

"Shiver, mam?" enquired the Major, starting. "Shiver? Why 'tis very
warm, I think----"

"Nay, this was an inward shiver, sir, a spasmic shudder o' the soul!
Indeed she doeth me constant outrage."

"Who, mam?"

"Why Betty, for sure." Here the Major sighed again, his wistful gaze
wandered back to the open lattice and he fell to deep and melancholy
reverie the while Lady Belinda observed him sharp-eyed, his face leanly
handsome framed in the glossy curls of his great peruke, the exquisite
cut of his rich garments and the slender grace of the powerful figure
they covered, his high-bred air, his grave serenity mingled with a shy
reserve; finally she spoke:

"Major d'Arcy, your arm pray--let us go sit out upon the terr