m, where a tiny little girl presented a beautiful bouquet of
flowers.

The Princess made a gracious little speech, saying how glad she was to
come on behalf of the poor people to receive the purses of money which
the children had collected; and then as they passed up one by one and
laid their purses on the silver tray beside her, she had a smile and a
little happy nod for each of them.

It was a very pretty sight, but soon over, for the Princess, who is
devoted to good works, had to hurry away to another work of charity in a
distant part of London.

We were all sorry when she went, but were not allowed to get dull, for
almost immediately afterwards the concert began.

Several ladies and gentlemen sang, and a wonderful boy-pianist played
some music of his own composing; a little girl played the violin
delightfully; and a very humorous gentleman was giving a musical sketch
at the piano and making us all laugh very much, when I suddenly noticed
that the Duchess, who was sitting by herself on a settee, had raised her
lorgnette and was staring curiously, and rather apprehensively, at
something beside her.

It was yellow in colour and seemed to grow larger every minute. I had
imagined at first that it was a cushion, but now it suddenly occurred to
me that it was Shin Shira appearing.

Of course! and a minute or two later there he sat, cross-legged,
composedly fanning himself on the settee beside the Duchess.

I could see her draw her skirts aside and regard the little Yellow Dwarf
in a puzzled and bewildered manner; and, as soon as the musical sketch
was concluded, she called one of the footmen to her and told him to
"remove that extraordinary-looking person immediately."

Vera and the boys, however, had caught sight of Shin Shira, and flew
forward to claim acquaintance with him.

"It's Shin Shira, you know, godmamma. He's a friend of the gentleman
who came with us--and--"

"He was not invited," said the Duchess, looking with great disfavour at
the little Yellow Dwarf, "and it was exceedingly impertinent of your
friend to bring him without an invitation--I am displeased."

"Madam," said Shin Shira, getting down to the floor and bowing low in
the Oriental manner, "you are mistaken in thinking that I came with a
friend. I--er--appeared, because I was _obliged_ to do so--I--"

The Duchess came over to where I was sitting.

"_Do_ you know this person?" she inquired, pointing with her glasses
towards Shin Shira. "W