rs of the longest day of his life must
pass before he could kiss the lips of the woman who had given herself up
to him.

Her maid found her still seated on the sofa, and ventured to remind
her that time was fugitive, and that if mademoiselle still retained her
intention of going to Lady Earlscourt's dinner party,--Lady Earlscourt
was giving a dinner party apparently for the purpose of celebrating her
husband's departure for a cruise in Norwegian fjords in his yacht,--it
would be absolutely necessary for mademoiselle to permit herself to be
dressed without delay.

Phyllis sprang up with a little laugh that sounded like a large sigh,
and said if Fidele would have the kindness to switch on the lights in
the dressing room, she would not be kept waiting a moment.

The maid hurried upstairs, and mademoiselle repaired to an apartment
where she could remove, so far as was possible, the footmarks left
by those tears which she had shed when she had reflected upon the
loneliness to which Mr. Herbert Courtland was doomed for (probably) the
remainder of his life.

Mademoiselle had a dread of the acuteness of vision with which her maid
was endowed. She was not altogether sure that Fidele would be capable of
understanding the emotion that had forced those tears to her eyes.

But that was just where she was wrong. Fidele was capable of
understanding that particular emotion a good deal better than
mademoiselle understood it.

CHAPTER XIX.

THEY HAVE SOULS TO BE SAVED.

When Lord Earlscourt was at home the only two topics that were debarred
from the dinner table were religion and politics; but when Lord
Earlscourt was absent these were the only two topics admitted at the
dinner table. Lady Earlscourt had views, well-defined, clearly outlined,
on both religion and politics, and she greatly regretted that there
still remained some people in the world who held other views on both
subjects; it was very sad--for them; and she felt that it was clearly
her duty to endeavor by all the legitimate means in her power--say,
dinner parties for eight--to reduce the number of these persons. It was
rumored that in the country she had shown herself ready to effect
her excellent object by illegitimate means--say, jelly and flannel
petticoats--as well.

She wore distinctly evangelical boots, though, in the absence of her
husband, she had expressed her willingness to discuss the advantages
of the confessional. She had, however, declined, in