ens told you!"

"Yes, when I asked him if he knew you he told me with a touch of
genuine pride that you were friends. He thinks you are going to be the
greatest lawyer in New York. And I told him we'd known that for a long
time."

Stuart turned his head to hide a smile.

"But of course he's not in Nan's social set. I told her the day he came
that we would treat him politely but draw the line strictly on any
efforts he may make to pass the limits of acquaintance. The men who
associate with Nan must belong to her father's world--to your world,
Jim--the world of good breeding and culture. I've dinned this into
Nan's ears from babyhood. You know yourself it was the greatest joy of
my life the day she told me of your love."

By a supreme effort Stuart suppressed a laugh and answered seriously:

"Your approval has always been an inspiration to me, Mrs. Primrose. I
hope to prove myself worthy of it."

A carriage stopped at the door.

"There's Nan now!" the mother exclaimed, rising to go. "I'll leave you
to surprise her, Jim."

Stuart heard the carriage door slam, and in a moment the girl he loved
stood in the hall, the joy of an evening's perfect happiness shining in
her great dark eyes. He watched her a moment, unobserved, as she laid
aside her opera cloak and stood before the big mirror proudly and
calmly surveying her figure.

Never had her beauty seemed to him so dazzling. The cream-coloured
evening gown fitted her to perfection. She lifted her bare arms and
touched an old silver brooch that gleamed in the mass of black hair,
and smiled at the picture she saw reflected. The smile was one of
conscious power. The corners of the full sensuous lips curved the
slightest bit as the smile faded and a gleam of something like cruelty
flashed from the depths of her eyes, as her head lifted. She turned
sidewise to catch the full effect of the shining bare neck and
shoulders, and stood an instant with her beautiful bosom rising and
falling with conscious pride.

Stuart, unable to wait longer, was about to spring to her side when she
caught the flash of his laughing face in the mirror and turned.

"Oh! you rascal! To surprise me like this!" she cried, with joyous
laughter.

"In all your pride and vanity!"

"Well, need I apologize to-night, sir?" she asked, with a shrug of her
beautiful shoulders.

"No. You're glorious. I don't blame you."

She seized both his hands, still laughing.

"You know how it is yourself? Y