ways
supporting a family that is not mine, that does not sit at my
hearthstone or at my table. I am always marrying other people to some
one else, and dressing other people's children!"

He finished with a laugh: "There, No. 5 is up! Aren't you interested
in this race?"

Mrs. Falconer and Bulstrode had walked a little from where the young
couple chattered indifferent to everything but each other.

"No; I am only interested in what you are saying. What have you
planned to do or thought out for them, Jimmy? What do your rebellious
phrases imply? _Are_ you really going to make a home for----?"

Bulstrode said stubbornly. "No! I am going to show him how to make
one for himself."

He stopped short where he stood: he had resumed the care of her
parasol, her fan, and purse.

Her face, as she took in his exposition of his plan for the
regeneration of a decayed nobility, was inscrutable. Instead of
exclaiming, she stopped to speak a moment to some people who passed,
shook hands with the owner of the favorite, and when they were once
again alone said to her friend:

"Isn't it too delightful! the whole scene? I mean to say, how
perfectly they do it all. How thoroughly gay it is, how debonnair,
graceful, and _bien compris_. Look at the wonderful color of the
_pesage_, and the life of the whole thing! These Latin most thoroughly
understand the art of living. You scarcely ever see a care-worn face
in France. Look at Jack now! Did you ever see such anxiety as he
represents? If Bon Jour is beaten I don't know _what_ will become of
him. What shall I do with him?"

Bulstrode's interest on this subject was tepid.

"Oh, he'll be all right!" he said indifferently. "Take him to the
Dublin Horse Fair."

And then as though she had not capriciously left the other topic, Mrs.
Falconer asked:

"Just what _is_ your plan for Molly and her Marquis? May I not know?"

And Bulstrode who had never in any way thought out a plan or scheduled
a scheme for the wise distribution of the good he intended to do,
educated now, so he fondly hoped, by his failures, wiser, he was proud
to believe, by several sharp lessons--with no little confidence and
something of pride, said to his companion:

"I have a ranch out West, you know; a little property I took for a bad
debt once. It has turned out to be a great and good piece of luck.
That time I was fortunate--" (his tone, was congratulatory and Mrs.
Falconer smiled prettily). "I