met
and mantle on. You see, Sire, my menials were guests at Portsmouth's
ball--to lend respectability."

"Saucy wag," cried the Merry Monarch. "A ball?--A battle--which would
have killed thee straight!"

"It had liked to," reflected Nell, as she tartly replied: "A war of the
sex without me? It was stupid, then. The Duchess missed me, I trow."

"Never fear," answered Charles, with difficulty suppressing his mirth;
"you were bravely championed."

"I am sure of that," said Nell, slyly; "my King was there."

"And a bantam cock," ejaculated Charles, sarcastically, "upon whose lips
'Nell' hung familiarly."

"Some strange gallant," cried Nell, in ecstasy, "took my part before
them all? Who was he, Sire? Don't tantalize me so."

She smiled, half serious, half humorous, as she pleaded in her charming
way.

"A chip from the Blarney Stone," observed the King at length,
ironically, "surnamed Adair!"

"Adair! Adair!" cried Nell, to the astonishment of all. "We spent our
youth together. I see him in my mind's eye, Sire, throw down the
gauntlet in Nell's name and defy the world for her. Fill the cups. We'll
drink to my new-found hero! Fill! Fill! To Beau Adair, as you love me,
gallants! Long life to Adair!"

The cups were filled to overflowing and trembled on eager lips in
response to the hostess's merry toast.

"Stay!" commanded the King, in peremptory tones. "Not a drop to a
coward!"

"A coward!" cried Nell, aghast. "Adair a coward? I'll never credit it,
Sire!"

She turned away, lest she reveal her merriment, as she bethought her:
"He is trembling in my boots now. I can feel him shake."

"Our pledge is Nell, Nell only!" exclaimed the King, his cup high in
air.

With one accord, the gallants eagerly took up the royal pledge. "Aye,
aye, Nell!" "Nell!" "We'll drink to Nell!"

"You do me honour, royal gentlemen," bowed Nell, well pleased at the
King's toast.

She had scarce touched the cup to her lips, however, with a mental
chuckle, "Poor Adair! Here's a health to the inner man!" when her eye
fell upon one of Adair's gray boots, which Moll had failed to hide, in
her excitement, now revealing itself quite plainly in the light of the
many candles. She caught it adroitly on the tip of her toe and sent it
whizzing through the air in the direction of poor Moll, who,
fortunately, caught it in midair and hid it quickly beneath her apron.

The King turned at the sound; but Nell's face was as woefully
unconcerned as a