great favorite in society, and they had been led to expect that he
was to join their company at Hazeldean.

Great disappointment was expressed when they learned that he was not
likely to put in an appearance at all, and Mr. Palmer began to feel sorry
that he had not insisted upon having his son come with him.

Mr. Wellington was full of wit and pleasantry, and made merry, as he went
around the room with his friend, to introduce the strangers to him.

As they came to Mrs. Montague, he was somewhat surprised when the lady
greeted Mr. Palmer with great cordiality.

"I have already the pleasure of Mr. Palmer's acquaintance," she said,
with one of her most alluring smiles, as she extended her hand to him,
and forthwith she entered into conversation with him, thus effectually
chaining him to her side.

He seemed only too well pleased to linger there--he was, in fact, a
willing captive to her wiles, a circumstance which the bright eyes of the
younger portion of the company did not fail to observe and to comment
upon, with something of amusement, and not a little of the match-making
spirit of their own mammas.

"Girls!" exclaimed Alice Farwell, a gay, dashing beauty of twenty, to a
group of friends whom she had coaxed into a corner, "do you know that a
romance has begun here this evening?--a romance that will not be long in
culminating in matrimony? Oh! don't go to pluming your feathers," she
continued, as there was a general flutter, "for we _young_ Americans will
not figure in the story at all, though we may possibly be invited to the
wedding. Oh, if it should prove to be the only match of the season!" and
with a long-drawn sigh, she glanced mischievously across the room, toward
the recent arrival, who was apparently oblivious of all, save the
attractions of the charming Mrs. Montague.

Talk of match-making mammas!

This bevy of young girls became so engrossed in watching the progress of
the romance which was then being enacted in their presence, that they
forgot to flirt themselves, and took pains to help it on in every
possible way.

"It will be just the nicest match in the world," said Edith Brown,
delightfully. "Mr. Palmer is a fine-looking old gentleman, and Mrs.
Montague, though she seems a great deal younger, will make him a lovely
wife."

"It will be so suitable, too, for they are both rich, and stand high in
society," whispered a third, with an eye to worldly prosperity.

"And she can have all the diamon