an retained some of the traces
of a handsome youth. The fires of honour and sobriety were
extinguished, but his well-shaped head and clear-cut features still
weathered the storm, and suggested that if their owner was not good-
looking now, he might once have been.

Perhaps it was a lingering impression of the lost Roger's portrait which
made this vain gentleman adjust his curly locks and pose his head before
the glass in a style not unlike his model. Whether that was so or not,
the result appeared to satisfy him, and in due time, and not till after
several of the guests had already arrived, he descended in state to the
drawing-room.

It was the first festive gathering at Maxfield since the death of the
late Squire, and a good deal of curiosity was manifest on the part of
some of the guests both as to the heir and his new guardian.

Roger, nerved up to the occasion by his own spirit and the encouragement
of his tutor, bore his inspection well, and won golden opinions from his
future comrades and neighbours.

Captain Oliphant also acquitted himself well; and anything lacking in
him was amply forgiven for the sake of his charming daughters, the elder
of whom fairly took the "county" by storm.

Quite unconscious of the broken hearts which strewed her way, Rosalind,
with the duties of hostess unexpectedly cast upon her by Mrs Ingleton's
illness, exerted herself for the general happiness, and enjoyed herself
in the task.

Despite Tom's forebodings, the evening went off brilliantly. The music
was excellent, the amateur theatricals highly appreciated, and the dance
all that could be desired. The loyal youth found no difficulty in
palming his young sister off on half a dozen partners delighted to have
the opportunity, and his head was fairly turned by the sudden popularity
in which he found himself with visitors anxious for an introduction to
the fair Rosalind.

"Oh, all serene," said he confidentially to one of those glowing youths.
"She's booked six or seven deep, but I'll work it for you if I can.
You hang about here, and I'll fetch her up."

But the luckless ones hung about in vain. For Tom's progress was
intercepted by other candidates for the same favour, amidst whom the
young diplomatist played fast and loose in a reprehensible manner.

"Promised _you_, did I?" demanded he of one. "Well, you'll have to
square it up with that sandy-haired chap at the door. He says I
promised _him_; but he's all wrong, for