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The dinner was a so with the van der Luydens was at best no lightthere with a Duke as their cousin was alious solemnity It pleased Archer to think that only an old New Yorker could perceive the shade of difference (to New York) between beingthe van der Luydens' Duke New York took stray noblemen calmly, and even (except in the Struthers set) with a certain distrustful hauteur; but when they presented such credentials as these they were received with an old-fashioned cordiality that they would have been greatlyin Debrett It was for just such distinctions that the young man cherished his old New York even while he smiled at it

The van der Luydens had done their best to emphasise the importance of the occasion The du Lac Sevres and the Trevenna George II plate were out; so was the van der Luyden "Lowestoft" (East India Coonet Crown Derby Mrs van der Luyden looked randmother's seed-pearls and emeralds, reminded her son of an Isabey miniature All the ladies had on their handsomest jewels, but it was characteristic of the house and the occasion that these were s; and old Miss Lanning, who had been persuaded to come, actually wore her mother's cameos and a Spanish blonde shawl

The Countess Olenska was the only young woman at the dinner; yet, as Archer scanned the smooth plu ostrich feathers, they struck hihtened hi of her eyes

The Duke of St Austrey, who sat at his hostess's right, was naturally the chief figure of the evening But if the Countess Olenska was less conspicuous than had been hoped, the Duke was al a well-bred man he had not (like another recent ducal visitor) co clothes were so shabby and baggy, and he wore the ho, and the vast beard spreading over his shirt-front) he hardly gave the appearance of being in dinner attire He was short, round-shouldered, sunburnt, with a thick nose, small eyes and a sociable smile; but he seldom spoke, and when he did it was in such low tones that, despite the frequent silences of expectation about the table, his rehbours