fton.
Mere acquaintances, nothing more. Come and smoke a cigar in the
greenhouse. Hang all visitors--they worry one's life out. I'll appear
at the last moment with an apology; and you shall follow me at a safe
distance, and be a proof that I was really engaged."

Proposing this ingenious stratagem in a confidential whisper, Mr.
Vanstone took Frank's arm and led him round the house by the back way.
The first ten minutes of seclusion in the conservatory passed without
events of any kind. At the end of that time, a flying figure in bright
garments flashed upon the two gentlemen through the glass--the door was
flung open--flower-pots fell in homage to passing petticoats--and Mr.
Vanstone's youngest daughter ran up to him at headlong speed, with every
external appearance of having suddenly taken leave of her senses.

"Papa! the dream of my whole life is realized," she said, as soon as she
could speak. "I shall fly through the roof of the greenhouse if somebody
doesn't hold me down. The Marrables have come here with an invitation.
Guess, you darling--guess what they're going to give at Evergreen
Lodge!"

"A ball!" said Mr. Vanstone, without a moment's hesitation.

"Private Theatricals!!!" cried Magdalen, her clear young voice ringing
through the conservatory like a bell; her loose sleeves falling back and
showing her round white arms to the dimpled elbows, as she clapped her
hands ecstatically in the air. "'The Rivals' is the play, papa--'The
Rivals,' by the famous what's-his-name--and they want ME to act! The one
thing in the whole universe that I long to do most. It all depends on
you. Mamma shakes her head; and Miss Garth looks daggers; and Norah's as
sulky as usual--but if you say Yes, they must all three give way and
let me do as I like. Say Yes," she pleaded, nestling softly up to her
father, and pressing her lips with a fond gentleness to his ear, as she
whispered the next words. "Say Yes, and I'll be a good girl for the rest
of my life."

"A good girl?" repeated Mr. Vanstone--"a mad girl, I think you must
mean. Hang these people and their theatricals! I shall have to go
indoors and see about this matter. You needn't throw away your cigar,
Frank. You're well out of the business, and you can stop here."

"No, he can't," said Magdalen. "He's in the business, too."

Mr. Francis Clare had hitherto remained modestly in the background. He
now came forward with a face expressive of speechless amazement.

"Yes," conti