r father
for a drive in the park, but he should not do it now. Probably the linen
gown was the only one Bessie had brought with her, and the elegant Neil
McPherson, who thought so much of one's personal appearance and what
Mrs. Grundy would say, could not face the crowd with that gown at his
side, even if Bessie were in it. She would never know it, perhaps, but
she had lost her chances with Neil, who nevertheless, hated himself for
his foolish pride, and when the drive, which he shortened as much as
possible, was over, he left Blanche to go home alone, and taking a cab
drove straight to Oxford street and bought a lovely navy-blue silk and a
pretty chip hat, with a wreath of eglantines around it. These he ordered
sent to Bessie, at No. ---- Abingdon road, and then, feeling that he was
a pretty good fellow after all, he started for home, where to his
surprise, he found his cousin Jack.

"Why, Jack!" he exclaimed; "I thought you were in Ireland! When did you
return?"

"This morning; and, as you see, have lost no time in paying my respects
to you all," Jack answered, as he rose from his seat by Blanche and went
forward, with his easy, patronizing manner, which always exasperated
Neil; it had in it such an air of superiority over him, as if he were a
mere boy, to be noticed and made much of.

There was always a show of friendship between these two, but no genuine
liking. Still, they were now very gracious to each other, and talked
together until dinner was announced, when Jack offered his arm to
Blanche, to whom he devoted himself so assiduously that Neil was jealous
at once, even though for Blanche herself he did not care a penny. And he
knew Jack did not either, except as she was surrounded by the golden
halo of ten thousand a year. Neil had not made up his mind whether he
wanted that ten thousand with the incumbrance, or not; but he certainly
did not want Jack to get it, and his brow grew cloudy, and he became
very silent, until Jack startled him by saying:

"By the way, Neil, why have you never told me of that pretty little wild
blossom hidden away in Wales?"

"Whom do you mean?" Neil asked savagely; and Jack replied:

"I mean your cousin Bessie. I stumbled upon her and her father in the
park this afternoon, and told them who some of the people were. I was
standing by Miss McPherson's chair when you drove by--"

"And she made that rush at Neil as if she had been a mad thing; it was
too absurd!" Blanche chimed in,