THOUGH the Countess's letter had been answered in as great a hurry as it had no doubt been written by that charming type of a Parisian fashionable lady of those days, and though Bob's telegram had been replied to without much concern as to its meaning, and with the sole desire on my part to gain time-nay, to give myself one more clear day wherein to develop plans -in other words, to gratify the cravings of my love-sick disposition, still an uncomfortable feeling kept asserting itself that my arguments with the Count had no longer any foundation; that being apprised of Diane's engagement to him by her own aunt, I had perhaps no right to go to this dinner in his absence and after his request; and the conviction that I might be giving the Count some reason for doubting the honourable motives which prompted my conduct, and which I had so loftily paraded to his face, made me naturally reflect whether, after all, I had better start for England that evening, than get myself into possible disrepute.

I even looked at my watch to see how much time I had before the mail left for Calais; but it being half-past six, and there being only half an hour between the time of seeing once more the girl I loved and an hour and a half before the train could whirl me away from her delightful pretence, I of course concluded that I had no time to catch the train, while only just time enough not to miss my

dinner.

That watch decided the future, which at least proves that time is

not always a bad adviser. Consult time, and it will tell you to a nicety what you can and cannot do: and time is not only an adviser, but it is a friend; for gain him on your side, and the dark hour rolls into a flood of light; whisper your hopes and aspirations in his ear, and he gives the opportunity so ardently longed for.

I made up my mind that as I was to be absent from Paris shortly, I would make the most of the time left to me, and that, come what might, I would at least reveal myself in my true colours. I would be true to the girl I loved before I were so to considerations of etiquette, false sense of honour, or other social demands upon my reticence. I would know the truth, ask Diane for authority to speak to her parents, ask her parents for permission to supplant the Count, ask the Count to look upon me as his rival, ask the world to judge between us; and if refused that authority by Diane herself, leave Paris on the morrow, and swallow my grief as best I could, but bear my fate like a man.

I became so energetic as I heaped resolve upon resolve that I considerably retarded the progress of my toilet; but it was accomplished at last, and not without some little misgivings, notwithstanding my high resolves.

I arrived punctually at seven, and was ushered into the drawingroom. No one was there; but in a minute or two my hostess came, dressed in a cloud of Valenciennes, and looking for all the world like a fairy, or some beautiful bird suddenly entrapped in a gilded cage. The

room

was a wonder of upholstery and a labyrinth of costly stuffs, shawls, old brocades, and cosy nooks. It was redolent of the perfume of flowers; and wherever one stood, some knick-knack of value attracted the eye.

The Countess came up to me, shook hands, and with a look which at once indicated both weariness and some anxiety, said—

"Tell me all about this business, for it appears to be more serious than I thought it. Diane's parents will be here directly; but I am not sure that Diane herself will be allowed, after all, to accompany them, though I hope she will."

I was dismayed, and my friend saw it.

"Why could you not tell me yesterday that you were in love with her? It would have saved such an amount of trouble both to yourself, to us, and, I fear, to the poor girl herself, for I strongly suspect that she has a penchant for you."

I brightened up at this.

"She has not said anything to lead me to this conclusion," quickly added the Countess, "for she is too well brought up to betray her sentiments even when they are strong, when she knows them to be contrary to the wishes of her parents; but I can plainly see that this marriage is distasteful to her, and I can only conclude that it is so from her desire to meet you here this evening."

"Has she expressed such a desire?" I asked, with a fervour I could not conceal.

"Pauvre garçon !" smiled the Countess. Is it so far gone as all that? But how is it that you fell in love with my niece? where did you meet her?"

I could not for the life of me bring out the fact that it was at a pastry-cook's shop. It seemed to

me so ridiculous a place for love at first sight to be born in, so I contented myself by assuring her she would hear the whole story from me, as soon as I could secure her attention for a while, and ask her advice in my predicament, while I had just time to beg of her to stand by me as the friend she had ever proved-when the door opened, and ushered in the Marquise de Breteuille, followed-heavens ! with what delight I marked the entrance!--by Diane and her father.

The lace fairy went up joyously to her sister-in-law, embraced her on both cheeks, and being kissed on the forehead by her brother, led him by the hand to where I was, and said

"Thou dost not know my friend here, M. Vere, an Anglo-Frenchman, anxious to learn our ways and our manners, so as to feel with us and for us."

"I am happy to make your acquaintance, sir," said the Marquis, stiffly. His wife gave me an equally stiff bow, and Diane, on whose face a blush of untold eloquence spread quickly, in unison with the inward feelings which were agitating her, gave me a little nod of the head, so friendly, so graceful, and so modest withal, that it nerved me to any battle which I might be called upon to wage on her behalf.

Simply dressed as usual, it did not escape me that, tied in her hair in the most captivating manner, and at the same time so cleverly worn as to defy close observation, was a rose de Dijon half faded, which I recognised as the principal flower in the bouquet I had offered her overnight.

We all sat down presently. The conversation was general and somewhat constrained, for we all had so much on the mind that it was almost impossible to hide the

anxiety which was knocking so loudly at the heart.

The Marquis excused himself for not having made my acquaintance earlier, on the ground that he had entirely lost the habits of society, which he now never frequented, and believed I was not a member of the "Cercle" or club to which he generally devoted his evenings.

All this was very polite and required no answer, but presently Raymond de Chantalis came in, and brought with him a little breath of activity, refreshing to our overstrained nerves.

"Good evening, Léontine; sorry I am late, but I was detained by Carolus Duran, who showed me his latest picture a chef-d'œuvre of art and good taste.

"Ah, Gaspard, I wish you had been with me this afternoon! never saw such a splendid mare in my life as Bonnefois has just purchased in England.

Bonjour, l'ami Anglais. Comment çà va, mon garçon? And little Diane too! What am I to say? I have heard some wonderful reports of your success.

Finally, turning to his wife "Why, my dear, is dinner not announced? we are as hungry as wolves."

At that moment the foldingdoors of the adjoining room were opened, and a groom of the chamber, irreproachably got up in black silk stockings and pumps, announced that "Madame la Comtesse est servie."

The Count gave his arm to his sister-in-law, the Marquis to his sister, and thrice-blessed message, I was requested to take in Mademoiselle Diane.

She gave me a sorrowful smile when I offered her my arm, which in its simple eloquence told me of the grief which was gnawing

at her heart, and of the fast friendship she had loyally sworn to me. I felt that above all I must screen her from further trouble, and use all my diplomacy to carry out my intentions.

Happily the dinner-table was a round one, and thus no great distance would separate us, and we could contrive to slip in a word not destined for other ears; while the fact of my sitting on the Countess's left enabled me to escape the direct observation of the Marquis, who sat on her right.

It is true that on the other side of Diane was her mother, but there was quite space enough between them for the girl's words not to be heard if she chose to speak low.

As soon as the soup was over, I said to the Count across the table that, if he were anxious to buy a half-brother to the mare he had so much admired, I would willingly undertake the commission, as Bonnefois had told me of his recent visit to England, and of his regret not to have purchased this horse, which he thought he could have had at a bargain.

"Why," asked Raymond, "are you leaving us? "'

I quickly took in an attentive look from all around, and saw my advantage.

"Not for long, I trust; but this evening a telegram has reached me couched in very English brevity." "From whom?'

"From a friend in a Government Office, who merely says, 'Come over at once'; and were it not that I so particularly wished to dine with you to-night to make M. de Breteuille's acquaintance, I would probably now be on my way to London."

It is singular how often the simplest statements produce the greatest effects. The mere announcement of my probable de

and breaks more speedily than the will."

"It seems to me," said Diane, warming to this conversation, of the covered meaning of which she and I alone possessed the secret, and glowing with radiancy as each hint we conveyed one another brought with it a corresponding understanding as to our future action, while its seemingly unimportant tenor lulled to sleep the vigilance of her parents and restored to her her freedom of talk and gesture"it seems to me that there is nothing so grand in nature as those sudden storms you speak of, because they are tangible and definite, and when over leave you to repair a disaster or rejoice over an escape, and at any rate make the property which had been in danger all the more valuable in one's eyes."

Had I not had the conviction, which amounted almost to a creed, against which any doubt would have appeared to me profane, that Diane was a deep, loving, earnest, and strong nature, albeit she was gifted with the loveliest human form it was possible to see, I would have set down this speech of hers to an attempt at coquetterie, almost reprehensible in one who, speaking purposely in metaphors, knew that by property she meant her own dear self, and by the storm that battle she urged me to fight for her.

I was so struck by this courageous appeal, that looking straight into her clear bright eyes, I pointedly remarked how true was her observation provided the owner of the property knew that property to be his, and neither borrowed nor mortgaged.

She laughed so merrily at this that it attracted the attention of all the others, and we had to repeat our conversation for the ben

efit of the table generally, which we did, both of us laughing and enjoying the mystification to our hearts' content.

When all we had said had been rehearsed a second time, and no one seemed the wiser, Diane brightly addressed me again, not a trace of care or a shadow of anxiety lingering on her radiant young face.

"Revenons à nos moutons," she said; "of course, I referred to a man who, wishing to save his property from the effects of the storm about to break over his head, and (with an inflexion on the word) "on that property, may deem that property his own and nobody else's."

I was beside myself with joy, and finished our weather talk by assuring her that, were I the man so suddenly threatened, I would defend my property before even thinking of my personal safety.

"You seem to have a good deal of fun between you," said the Marquis, "and you must allow us to share it."

"Would you like, petit père," said Diane, with a laugh, "to be our lightning - conductor? for M. Vere and I have agreed that we dislike a storm very much, but will bravely weather it if it cannot be avoided."

I chuckled with delight, and indeed my joy was so great that I was in mental fear lest this last remark of Diane's might be too pointed, and would reveal the drift of our allusions; but fortunately for us, and somewhat oddly, considering the exceptional intelligence of our hearers, our observations and our mirth excited no apparent surprise; and Diane's parents, while warming to the conversation, which became general at this time, seemed to consider me of no account whatsoever, while they relaxed their fixed attention on their daughter's movements.