pany was breaking up into
groups and moving about, Philip again sought Evelyn. But she was the
centre of a somewhat noisy group, and it was not easy to join it.

Yet it was something that he could feast his eyes on her and was
rewarded by a look now and then that told him she was conscious of his
presence. Encouraged by this, he was making his way to her, when there
was a movement towards the supper-room, and Mrs. Mavick had taken the
arm of the Count de l'Auney, and the little lord was jauntily leading
away Evelyn. Philip had a pang of disgust and jealousy. Evelyn was
actually chatting with him and seemed amused. Lord Montague was
evidently laying himself out to please and exerting all the powers of
his subtle humor and exploiting his newly acquired slang. That Philip
could hear as they moved past him. "The brute!" Philip said to himself,
with the injustice which always clouds the estimate of a lover of a
rival whose accomplishments differ from his own.

In the supper-room, however, in the confusion and crowding of it, Philip
at length found his opportunity to get to the side of Evelyn, whose
smile showed him that he was welcome. It was in that fortunate
interval when Lord Montague was showing that devotion to women was not
incompatible with careful attention to terrapin and champagne. Philip
was at once inspired to say:

"How lovely it is! Aren't you tired?"

"Not at all. Everybody is very kind, and some are very amusing. I am
learning a great deal," and there was a quizzical look in her eyes,
"about the world."

"Well," said Philip, "t's all here."

"I suppose so. But do you know," and there was quite an ingenuous blush
in her cheeks as she said it, "it isn't half so nice, Mr. Burnett, as a
picnic in Zoar."

"So you remember that?" Philip had not command of himself enough not to
attempt the sentimental.

"You must think I have a weak memory," she replied, with a laugh. "And
the story? When shall we have it?"

"Soon, I hope. And, Miss Mavick, I owe so much of it to you that I hope
you will let me send you the very first copy from the press."

"Will you? And do you Of course I shall be pleased and" (making him a
little curtsy) "honored, as one ought to say in this company."

Lord Montague was evidently getting uneasy, for his attention was
distracted from the occupation of feeding.

"No, don't go Lord Montague, an old friend, Mr. Burnett."

"Much pleased," said his lordship, looking round rather inquiri