ouza, a Jewess portly and typical, resplendent
in black satin and many gold chains and bangles, occupied the seat of
honour, and by her side was a little brown girl, with dark, timid eyes
and dusky complexion, pitiably over-dressed but with a certain elf-like
beauty, which it was hard to believe that she could ever have inherited.
Miss Montressor and her friend sat on either side of their host--an
arrangement which Mrs. Da Souza lamented, but found herself powerless to
prevent, and her husband took the vacant place. Dinner was served, and
with the opening of the champagne, which was not long delayed, tongues
were loosened.

"It was very hot in the City to-day," Mrs. Da Souza remarked to her
host. "Dear Julie was saying what a shame it seemed that you should
be there and we should be enjoying your beautiful gardens. She is so
thoughtful, so sympathetic! Dear girl!"

"Very kind of your daughter," Trent answered, looking directly at her
and rather inclined to pity her obvious shyness. "Come, drink up, Da
Souza, drink up, girls! I've had a hard day and I want to forget for a
bit that there's any such thing as work."

Miss Montressor raised her glass and winked at her host.

"It don't take much drinking, this, General," she remarked, cheerily
draining her glass! "Different to the 'pop' they give us down at the
'Star,' eh, Flossie? Good old gooseberry I call that!"

"Da Souza, look after Miss Flossie," Trent said. "Why don't you fill her
glass? That's right!"

"Hiram!"

Da Souza removed his hand from the back of his neighbour's chair and
endeavoured to look unconscious. The girl tittered--Mrs. Da Souza was
severely dignified. Trent watched them all, half in amusement, half in
disgust. What a pandemonium! It was time indeed for him to get rid of
them all. From where he sat he could see across the lawn into the little
pine plantation. It was still light-if she could look in at the open
window what would she think? His cheeks burned, and he thrust the hand
which was seeking his under the table savagely away. And then an idea
flashed in upon him--a magnificent, irresistible idea. He drank off a
glass of champagne and laughed loud and long at one of his neighbour's
silly sayings. It was a glorious joke! The more he thought of it, the
more he liked it. He called for more champagne, and all, save the little
brown girl, greeted the magnum which presently appeared with cheers.
Even Mrs. Da Souza unbent a little towards the you