t worn off, although but a few minutes would
elapse before the arrival of the guests. This was apparent in the
rise and fall of Breen's heels, as he seesawed back and forth on the
hearth-rug in the satin-lined drawing-room, with his coattails spread to
the life less grate, and from the way he glanced nervously at the mirror
to see that his cravat was properly tied and that his collar did not
ride up in the back.

The only calm person in the house was the ex-widow. With the eyes of a
major-general sweeping the field on the eve of an important battle, she
had taken in the disposition of the furniture, the hang of the curtains
and the placing of the cushions and lesser comforts. She had also
arranged with her own hands the masses of narcissus and jonquils on the
mantels, and had selected the exact shade of yellow tulips which centred
the dining-room table. It was to be a "Gold-Mine Dinner," so Arthur had
told her, "and everything must be in harmony."

Then seeing Parkins, who had entered unexpectedly and caught her in the
act (it is bad form for a hostess to arrange flowers in some houses--the
butler does that), she asked in an indifferent tone: "And how many are
we to have for dinner, Parkins?" She knew, of course, having spent an
hour over a diagram placing the guests.

"Fourteen, my lady."

"Fourteen!--really, quite a small affair." And with the air of one
accustomed all her life to banquets in palaces of state, she swept out
of the room.

The only time she betrayed herself was just before the arrival of the
guests, when her mind reverted to her daughter.

"The Portmans are giving a ball next week, Arthur, and I want Corinne to
go. Are you sure he is coming?"

"Don't worry, Kitty, Portman's coming; and so are the Colonel, and
Crossbin, and Hodges, and the two Chicago directors, and Mason, and a
lot more. Everybody's coming, I tell you. If Mukton Lode doesn't sit up
and take notice with a new lease of life after tonight, I'm a Dutchman.
Run, there's the bell."

The merciful Scribe will spare the reader the details incident upon
the arrival of the several guests. These dinners are all alike: the
announcements by the butler; the passing of the cocktails on a
wine tray; the standing around until the last man has entered the
drawing-room; the perfunctory talk--the men who have met before
hobnobbing instantly with each other, the host bearing the brunt of the
strangers; the saunter into the dining-room, the reading