quite respectfully, to Dissolute
Dick.

"This is Miss Dence, a lady descended, like the rest of us, from poor
Sir Richard; Miss Dence; Mr. Richard Raby."

Jael blushed more deeply than ladies with white and antique busts are in
the habit of doing, and it was curious to see the rosy tint come on her
white neck, and then die quietly away again. Yet she courtesied with
grace and composure. (Mrs. Little had trained her at all points; and
grace comes pretty readily, where nature has given perfect symmetry.)

Dinner was announced, and Raby placed the Dissolute between his sister
and the magnificent Beauty dead Sir Richard had developed. He even gave
a reason for this arrangement.

"All you ladies like a rake: you PRAISE sober fellows like me; but what
you PREFER is a Rake."

As they were rustling into their places, Mrs. Little said to Dick, with
a delicious air of indifference, "ARE you a rake, Mr. Raby?"

"I am anything you like," replied the shameless fellow.

All the old plate was out, and blazing in the light of candles
innumerable.

There was one vacant chair.

Dick asked if there was anybody expected.

"Not much," said Raby dryly. "That is Sir Richard's chair, on these
occasions. However, he may be sitting in it now, for aught I know. I
sincerely hope he is."

"If I thought that, I'd soon leave mine," said Jael, in a tremulous
whisper.

"Then stay where you are, Sir Richard," said the Rake, making an
affected motion with his handkerchief, as if to keep the good Knight
down.

In short, this personage, being young, audacious, witty, and animated
by the vicinity of the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, soon
deprived the anniversary of that solemn character Mr. Raby desired to
give it. Yet his volubility, his gayety, and his chaff were combined
with a certain gentlemanlike tact and dexterity; and he made Raby laugh
in spite of himself, and often made the ladies smile. But Henry Little
sat opposite, and wondered at them all, and his sad heart became very
bitter.

When they joined the ladies in the drawing-room, Henry made an effort to
speak to Jael Dence. He was most anxious to know whether she had heard
from Grace Carden. But Jael did not meet him very promptly, and while
he was faltering out his inquiries, up came Richard Raby and resumed his
attentions to her--attentions that very soon took the form of downright
love-making. In fact he stayed an hour after his carriage was announced,
and being