ble to come at such short notice."

The telegram was written and despatched, Carr having given me an address
where letters would find him, though he said he did not put up there. I
sincerely hoped he would not be out of the way on this occasion, and I
was not a little pleased when, a few hours later, I received a telegram
in reply saying that he could come, and should arrive by the afternoon
train which had brought me the day before.

The spirits of the whole party revived. I (as is often the case) was in
high favor with all. Even poor Denis, who had been very much depressed,
was sufficiently relieved by the news--so Charles said--to smile over
his beef-tea. Lady Mary, who appeared at luncheon-time, treated me with
marked consideration. I had already laid them under an obligation, she
said, graciously, by undertaking the care of the jewels, and now they
were indebted to me a second time. Was Mr. Carr one of Lord Barrantyne's
sons, or was he one of the Crampshire Carrs? She had known Lady Caroline
Carr in her youth, but had not met her of late years. She seemed
surprised when I told her that Carr was an American, and he sank, I
could see, at once in her estimation; but she was kind enough to say
that she was not a person who was prejudiced in any way by a man's
nationality, and that she believed that very respectable people might be
found among the Americans.

The day passed in the usual preparations for an entertainment. If I went
into the hall I was sure to run against gardeners carrying in quantities
of hot-house plants, with which the front of the stage was being hidden
from the foot-lights to the floor; if I wandered into the library I
interrupted Aurelia and Ralph rehearsing their parts alone, with their
heads very close together; if I hastily withdrew into the morning-room,
it was only to find Charles upon his knees luring Evelyn to immediate
flight, in soul-stirring accents, before an admiring audience of not
unenvious young ladyhood.

"Now, Evelyn, I ask you as a favor," said Charles, as I came in, moving
towards her on his knees, "will you come a little closer when I am down?
I don't mind wearing out my knees the least in a good cause; but I owe
it to myself, as a wicked baron in hired tights, not to cross the stage
in that position. Any impression I make will be quite lost if I do; and
unless you keep closer, I shall never be able to reach your hand and
clasp it to a heart at least two yards away. Now,"--ri