without dat--"

"Jes look here!" cried Dolf, holding up a key which had been resting in
his pocket; "catch me unprepared; I thought about the wine."

Clorinda almost embraced Dolf in her delight, but in his haste to reach
the wine-cellar, he did not seem to observe the demonstration.

When her lover came back with his arms full of long-necked bottles,
Clorinda's happiness was supreme, and directly after there was a rush of
feet and abrupt silence with the two fiddlers. The company had gone in
to supper.

After the rush and bustle had subsided a little, Dolf placed himself at
the head of the table, with a corkscrew in one hand and a bottle in the
other.

"Oh, my!" whispered Virginia, "I hope dar's lots of pop in it."

A rushing explosion, and the rich gurgle of amber wine into the crowding
goblets satisfied her completely.

Dolf lifted his glass and prepared himself for a speech.

"Ladies of the fair sect and gentlemen--"

That moment Mr. Julius Hannibal, who had allowed himself to be crowded
towards the door, stole out and went softly up stairs. With the stealthy
motion of a cat, he crept along the hall and opened the front door.

A man came out from the shadows of the portico, and glided into the
hall. It was Mr. North, Hannibal's master.

CHAPTER VI.

THE WEDDING.

A crowd of carriages stood in front of the church--a throng of
richly-dressed persons filled it, with such life and bustle as sacred
walls never witness, save on the occasion of a grand wedding. Mrs.
Harrington had done her pleasant work famously. Not a fashionable person
among her own friends, or a distinguished one known to bridegroom or
bride, had been omitted. Thus the stately church was crowded. Snowy
feathers waved over gossamer bonnets; lace, glittering silks, and a
flash of jewels were seen on every hand, fluttering in the dim religious
light around smiling faces and gracefully bending figures.

A buzz of whispered conversations rose from nave to gallery; for a large
portion of that brilliant throng had never seen the bride, and curiosity
was on the _qui vive_ regarding a person so utterly unknown to society,
who had carried off the greatest match of the season.

In one of the front pews a friend of Mrs. Harrington was sitting with a
group of her own confidential acquaintances. Of course she knew all
about it, and could tell them why Mr. Mellen had chosen a wife so
utterly unknown to their set.

Certainly Mrs. C. knew al