s arm and escorted her across the room to the sofa
that was doing duty as throne for "the queen of the evening."

"I am glad to see you looking so well, Bee! Mr. Worth, I hope you are
enjoying yourself," was the greeting of Miss Merlin, as they came up.

Then turning towards the viscount, she said:

"Beatrice, my dear, permit me--Lord Vincent, my cousin, Miss Middleton."

A low bow from the gentleman, a slight courtesy from the lady, and that
was over.

"Lord Vincent--Mr. Worth," said Claudia.

Two distant bows acknowledged this introduction--so distant that
Claudia felt herself called upon to mediate, which she did by saying:

"Mr. Worth, Lord Vincent has been particularly interested in you, ever
since you entered the room. He finds a striking resemblance between
yourself and a very old friend of his own, who is also from your native
county."

Ishmael looked interested, and his smiling eyes turned from Claudia to
Lord Vincent in good-humored inquiry.

"I allude to Mr. Herman Brudenell of Brudenell Hall, Maryland, who has
been living in England lately. There is a very striking likeness between
him and yourself; so striking that I might have mistaken one for the
other; but that you are larger, and, now that I see you closely, darker,
than he is. Perhaps you are relatives," said Lord Vincent.

"Oh, no; not at all; not the most distant. I am not even acquainted with
the gentleman; never set eyes on him in my life!" said Ishmael, smiling
ingenuously; for of course he thought he was speaking the exact truth.

But oh, Herman! oh, Nora! if he from the nethermost parts of the
earth--if she from the highest heaven could have heard that honest
denial of his parentage from the truthful lips of their gifted son!

"There is something incomprehensible in the caprices of nature, in
making people who are in no way related so strongly resemble each
other," said Lord Vincent.

"There is," admitted Ishmael.

At this moment the music ceased, the dancers left the floor, and there
was a considerable movement of the company toward the back of the room.

"I think they are going to supper. Will you permit me to take you in,
Miss Merlin?" said Lord Vincent, offering his arm.

"If you please," said Claudia, rising to take it.

"Shall I have the honor, dear Bee?" inquired Ishmael.

Beatrice answered by putting her hand within Ishmael's arm. And they
followed the company to the supper room--scene of splendor,
magnificence, and