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At his corner he hesitated, and then walked on down Fifth Avenue

Ahead of hi unlit house As he drew near he thought how often he had seen it blazing with lights, its steps awninged and carpeted, and carriages waiting in double line to draw up at the curbstone It was in the conservatory that stretched its dead-black bulk down the side street that he had taken his first kiss from May; it was under the myriad candles of the ball-roo as a young Diana

Now the house was as dark as the grave, except for a faint flare of gas in the baseht in one upstairs room where the blind had not been lowered As Archer reached the corner he saw that the carriage standing at the door was Mrs Manson Mingott's What an opportunity for Sillerton Jackson, if he should chance to pass! Archer had been greatly moved by old Catherine's account of Madahteous reprobation of New York seeh what construction the clubs and drawing-rooms would put on Ellen Olenska's visits to her cousin

He paused and looked up at the lightedNo doubt the toether in that rooht consolation elsewhere There were even ru; but Mrs Beaufort's attitude made the report seem improbable

Archer had the nocturnal perspective of Fifth Avenue almost to hi for dinner; and he was secretly glad that Ellen's exit was likely to be unobserved As the thought passed through his mind the door opened, and she caht have been carried down the stairs to show her the way She turned to say a word to some one; then the door closed, and she came down the steps

"Ellen," he said in a low voice, as she reached the paveht start, and just then he sao youngThere was a familiar air about their overcoats and the way their smart silk mufflers were folded over their white ties; and he wondered how youths of their quality happened to be dining out so early Then he reie Chiverses, whose house was a few doors above, were taking a large party that evening to see Adelaide Neilson in Rouessed that the tere of the nunised Lawrence Lefferts and a young Chivers