w crowded to repletion, and she readily fell in with
her partner's suggestion that they should take a turn in the cooler
atmosphere of the garden; and as she passed the threshold, a rapid,
retrospective glance informed her that Eve was once more playing her
arduous part of hostess.

Never had actress more anxiously awaited the fall of the curtain
upon her scene. Her husband, in the gallant russet of a falconer,
was dancing now with Mrs. Dollond: she could hear his frequent
laughter, and, though she turned her eyes away, see him bending over
his partner to catch the words, trivial enough no doubt, which she
seemed to whisper with such an air of confidence. But, though she
had heard him address Mrs. Dollond by her Christian name, she did
not pay him the compliment of being jealous: the time for that had
passed. The account which she had to demand of him related to a
matter far more serious than the most flagrant of flirtations--she
only longed to confront him, to tear from him a confession, not so
much with a view to humiliate him as to enlighten herself, and to
force him to make the only reparation in his power.

When the music had ceased, and the measured tread of feet lapsed
into the confusion of independent wanderings, Eve turned to find her
husband close behind her, and Mrs. Dollond firing off a neat little
speech of congratulation, panting a little, and making play with her
elaborate fan.

She was quick to seize the opportunity for which she had waited so
eagerly; with a few words of smiling apology to Mrs. Dollond and the
others who were gathered round her, she intimated to her husband
that she wished him to come with her, to attend to something: she
assumed a playful air of mystery.

"Oh, you must go!" said Mrs. Dollond, "your wife is planning some
delightful surprise for us: I can see it in her eyes! Though, what
one could want more----"

The music began again, and the couples took their places for the
Lancers: there was to be a Shakespearian set, and another of
Waverley notabilities.

Under cover of the discussion and confusion which this scheme
involved, Eve withdrew, leading the way into the room which they
called the library, and which was full of superfluous furniture,
removed from the drawing-room to make space for the dancers. Her
husband followed, lifting his eyebrows, with a chivalrous but not
wholly successful attempt to disguise his impatience.

When he had closed the door, Eve turned suddenl