und to meet on, and they quickly
became as intimate as ever Frederick Mostyn permitted himself to be with
a stranger. Bryce could hardly help catching enthusiasm from Mostyn on
the subject of New York, and he was able to show his new acquaintance
phases of life in the marvelous city which were of the greatest interest
to the inquisitive Yorkshire squire--Chinese theaters and opium dives;
German, Italian, Spanish, Jewish, French cities sheltering themselves
within the great arms of the great American city; queer restaurants,
where he could eat of the national dishes of every civilized country
under the sun; places of amusement, legal and illegal, and the vast
under side of the evident life--all the uncared for toiling of the
thousands who work through the midnight hours. In these excursions the
young men became in a way familiar, though neither of them ever told the
other the real feelings of their hearts or the real aim of their lives.

The proposed dinner took place ten days after its suggestion. There was
nothing remarkable in the function itself; all millionaires have
the same delicacies and the same wines, and serve these things with
precisely the same ceremonies. And, as a general thing, the company
follow rigidly ordained laws of conversation. Stories about public
people, remarks about the weather and the opera, are in order; but
original ideas or decided opinions are unpardonable social errors.
Yet even these commonplace events may contain some element that shall
unexpectedly cut a life in two, and so change its aims and desires as
to virtually create a new character. It was Frederick Mostyn who in
this instance underwent this great personal change; a change totally
unexpected and for which he was absolutely unprepared. For the people
gathered in Mrs. Denning's drawing-room were mostly known to him, and
the exceptions did not appear to possess any remarkable traits, except
Basil Stanhope, who stood thoughtfully at a window, his pale, lofty
beauty wearing an air of expectation. Mostyn decided that he was
naturally impatient for the presence of his fiancee, whose delayed
entrance he perceived was also annoying Ethel. Then there was a slight
movement, a sudden silence, and Mostyn saw Stanhope's face flush and
turn magically radiant. Mechanically he followed his movement and the
next moment his eyes met Fate, and Love slipped in between. Dora was
there, a fairy-like vision in pale amber draperies, softened with silk