tly with theatrical affairs. It was headed "'The Squire's
Daughter' in Wednesday Night's Fog," and gave a minute and somewhat
highly colored account of Miss Burgoyne's experiences on the night in
question; while the fact of her having been escorted by Mr. Lionel Moore
was pointed to as another instance of the way in which professional
people were always ready to help one another. That this account emanated
in the first place from Miss Burgoyne herself, there could be no doubt
whatever; for there were certain incidents--as, for example, the cab
wheels getting up on the pavement and the near upsetting of the
vehicle--which were only known to herself and her companion; but Lionel
did not in his own mind accuse her of having directly instigated its
publication. He thought it was more likely one of the advertising tricks
of Mr. Lehmann, who was always trying to keep the chief members of his
company well before the public. It was the first time, certainly, that
he, Lionel, had had his name coupled (unprofessionally) with that of
Miss Burgoyne in the columns of a newspaper; but was that of any
consequence? People might think what they liked. He had grown a little
reckless and careless of late.

[Illustration: "_And again she filled up his glass, which he had not
emptied._"]

But a much more important event was now about to happen which the
theatrical papers would have been glad to get for their weekly gossip,
had the persons chiefly concerned thought fit. Just at this time there
was being formed in London, under distinguished patronage, a
loan-collection of arms and embroideries of the Middle Ages, and
there was to be a Private View on the Saturday preceding the opening of
the exhibition to the public. Among others, Miss Burgoyne received a
couple of cards of invitation, whereupon she came to Lionel, told him
that her brother Jim was going to see some football match on that day,
explained that she was very anxious to have a look at the precious
needle-work, and virtually asked him to take her to the show. Lionel
hung back; the crowd at this Private View was sure to include a number
of fashionable folk; there might be one or two people there whom he
would rather not meet. But Miss Burgoyne was gently persuasive, not to
say pertinacious; he could not well refuse; finally it was arranged he
should call for her about half past one o'clock on the Saturday, so that
they might have a look round before the crush began in the afte