lived for ever," Johnny said to himself.

He had not yet been definitely called upon by the entrance of the
servant to offer his arm to Miss Demolines, when Crosbie walked
across to him from the rug and addressed him.

"Mr. Eames," said he, "it is some time since we met." And he offered
his hand to Johnny.

"Yes, it is" said Johnny, accepting the proffered salutation. "I
don't know exactly how long, but ever so long."

"I am very glad to have the opportunity of shaking hands with you,"
said Crosbie; and then he retired, as it had become his duty to wait
with his arm ready for Mrs. Dobbs Broughton. Having married an earl's
daughter he was selected for that honour. There was a barrister in
the room, and Mrs. Dobbs Broughton ought to have known better. As she
professed to be guided in such matters by the rules laid down by
the recognised authorities, she ought to have been aware that a man
takes no rank from his wife. But she was entitled I think to merciful
consideration for her error. A woman situated as was Mrs. Dobbs
Broughton cannot altogether ignore these terrible rules. She cannot
let her guests draw lots for precedence. She must select some one
for the honour of her own arm. And amidst the intricacies of rank
how is it possible for woman to learn and to remember everything?
If Providence would only send Mrs. Dobbs Broughton a Peer for every
dinner-party, the thing would go more easily; but what woman will
tell me, off-hand, which should go out of a room first: a C.B., an
Admiral of the Blue, the Dean of Barchester, or the Dean of Arches?
Who is to know who was everybody's father? How am I to remember that
young Thompson's progenitor was made a baronet and not a knight when
he was Lord Mayor? Perhaps Mrs. Dobbs Broughton ought to have known
that Mr. Crosbie could have gained nothing by his wife's rank, and the
barrister may be considered to have been not immoderately severe when
he simply spoke of her afterwards as the silliest and most ignorant
old woman he had ever met in his life. Eames with the lovely Miss
Demolines on his arm was the last to move before the hostess.
Mr. Dobbs Broughton had led the way energetically with old Lady
Demolines. There was no doubt about Lady Demolines,--as his wife
had told him, because her title marked her. Her husband had been
a physician in Paris, and had been knighted in consequence of
some benefit supposed to have been done to some French scion of
royalty,--when such scions