tle blinded, by custom.

Neither could convince the other, but Mrs. Little overpowered Jael by
saying, "I shall wear mine low, and you will mortally offend my brother
if you don't."

Then Jael succumbed, but looked forward to the day with a simple
terror one would hardly have expected from the general strength of her
character.

Little arrived, and saw his mother for a minute or two before dinner.
She seemed happy and excited, and said, "Cheer up, darling; we will find
a way to make you happy. Mark my words, a new era in your life dates
from to-day: I mean to open your eyes tonight. There, don't question me,
but give me one kiss, and let us go and make ourselves splendid for poor
Sir Richard."

When Little came down-stairs he found his uncle and a
distinguished-looking young gentleman standing before the fire; both
were in full dress. Raby had the Stuart orders on his breast and looked
a prince. He introduced Little to Mr. Richard Raby with high formality;
but, before they had time to make acquaintance, two ladies glided into
the room, and literally dazzled the young men, especially Dissolute
Dick, who knew neither of them.

Mrs. Little, with her oval face, black brow and hair, and stately
but supple form, was a picture of matronly beauty and grace; her rich
brunette skin, still glossy and firm, showed no signs of age, but under
her glorious eyes were the marks of trouble; and though her face was
still striking and lovely, yet it revealed what her person
concealed, that she was no longer young. That night she looked about
eight-and-thirty.

The other lady was blonde, and had a face less perfect in contour, but
beautiful in its way, and exquisite in color and peach-like bloom; but
the marvel was her form; her comely head, dignified on this occasion
with a coronet of pearls, perched on a throat long yet white and
massive, and smooth as alabaster; and that majestic throat sat enthroned
on a snowy bust and shoulders of magnificent breadth, depth, grandeur,
and beauty. Altogether it approached the gigantic; but so lovely was the
swell of the broad white bosom, and so exquisite the white and polished
skin of the mighty shoulders adorned with two deep dimples, that the awe
this grand physique excited was mingled with profound admiration.

Raby and Henry Little both started at the sudden grandeur and brilliance
of the woman they thought they knew, but in reality had never seen; and
Raby, dazzled himself, presented her,