dare let him
in. It would be as much as their places are worth. No porter
could hope for a character who let him in twice in the season."

"Poor Mr. Smith," said Mary, smiling. "But you know we have no
porter, and," she suddenly checked herself, and added gravely,
"he is an old friend, and papa and mamma like him."

"But the wearisomeness of his grievances! Those three sons in the
Plungers, and their eternal scrapes! How you could manage to keep
a civil face! It was a masterpiece of polite patience."

"Indeed, I am very sorry for his troubles. I wonder where mamma
can be? We are going to drive. Shall you be in the Park? I think
it must be time for me to dress."

"I hope not. It is so seldom that I see you except in crowded
rooms. Can you wonder that I should value such a chance as this?"

"Were you at the new opera last night?" asked Mary, carefully
avoiding his eye, and sticking to her work, but scarcely able to
conceal her nervousness and discomfort.

"Yes, I was there; but--"

"Oh, do tell me about it, then; I hear it was a great success."

"Another time. We can talk of the opera anywhere. Let me speak
now of something else. You must have seen, Miss Porter,--"

"How can you think I will talk of anything till you have told me
about the opera?" interrupted Mary rapidly and nervously. "Was
Grisi very fine? The chief part was composed for her, was it not?
and dear old Lablache--"

"I will tell you all about it presently, if you will let me, in
five minutes' time--I only ask for five minutes--"

"Five minutes! Oh, no, not five seconds. I must hear about the
new opera before I will listen to a word of anything else."

"Indeed, Miss Porter, you must pardon me for disobeying. But I
may not have such a chance as this again for months."

With which prelude he drew his chair towards hers and Mary was
just trying to make up her mind to jump up and run right out of
the room, when the door opened, and the butler walked in with a
card on a waiter. Mary had never felt so relieved in her life,
and could have hugged the solemn old domestic when he said,
presenting the card to her,

"The gentleman asked if Mrs. or you were in, Miss, and told me to
bring it up, and find whether you would see him on particular
business. He's waiting in the hall."

"Oh, yes, I know. Of course. Yes, say I will see him directly. I
mean, ask him to come up now."

"Shall I show him into the library, Miss?"

"No, no; in here; do you und