was not decided on till
several had been rejected. She chose at last a chaplet of those soft,
silvery Venetian shells--such as her bridesmaids may have woven into the
night of Amphitrite's hair when they crowned her Queen of the
Mediterranean.

It was a very artistic picture. So Madame de Verzenay said, in the midst
of a rather too rapturous greeting; so the Frenchmen thought, as a low
murmur of admiration ran through their circle when she entered. Fanny,
too, had her modest success. There were not wanting eyes that turned for
a moment from the brilliant beauty of her companion to repose themselves
on the sweet girlish face shaded by silky brown tresses, and on the
perfect little figure floating so lightly and gracefully along amid its
draperies of pale cloudy blue.

Miss Tresilyan felt that there might be _one_ glance that it would be a
trial to meet unconcernedly, and she had been schooling herself
sedulously for the encounter. She might have spared herself some
trouble; for Royston Keene was not there when they arrived. She knew
that Mrs. Molyneux had told him of the change in their plans; but the
latter did not choose to confess how she had been puzzled by the very
peculiar smile with which the major greeted the intelligence: it was the
only notice he took of it. So the evening went on, with nothing to raise
it above the dead level of average _soirees_. Cecil delayed going to the
piano till she was ashamed of making more excuses, and was obliged to
"execute herself" with the best grace she could manage. Even while she
was singing, her glance turned more than once toward the door; but the
stalwart figure, beside which all others seemed dwarfed and
insignificant, never showed itself. It was clear _he_ was not among
those who had given up other engagements to hear her songs. If we have
been at some trouble and mental expense in getting ourselves into any
one frame of mind--whether it be enthusiasm, or self-control, or
fortitude, or heroism--it is an undeniable nuisance to find out suddenly
that there is to be no scope for its exercise. Take a very practical
instance. Here is Lieutenant Colonel Asahel ready on the ground,
looking, as his conscience and his backers tell him, "as fine as a star,
and fit to run for his life;" at the last moment his opponent pays
forfeit. Just ascertain the sentiments of that gallant fusileer. Does
the result at all recompense him for the futile privations and wasted
asceticism of those l