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They 's dinner, a s-rooars, Mrs Cable, with not a little trepidation, motioned to Mr Banse forith pleasure to this opportunity, Mr Bansemer," she said, in a courteously acidulated way "It has been so long in co"

"Better late than never," he returned, with nificance of his words was quickly nullified by the smile hich she was almost instantly favoured "Twenty years, I believe--it certainly ca from harsh to the sweetest of tones "No one could believe that you--you're sihter is even more beautiful, if such is possible, than her--her mother"

Apparently, the innuendo passed unnoticed; in reality, it required all her courage to appear cal him full in the face: "Her mother thanks you for the compliment"

It was a brave little speech; such bravery would have softened a ed his purpose Not so with Banseleam came into his eyes and his attack became more brutally direct

"But the husband--has he never iven with rippling laughter and for the benefit of any chance listeners

"For shato spoil it all?"

Despite his growing annoyance, admiration shone clearly from Bansemer's eyes His memory carried him, back some twenty years to the scene in his office Was it possible, he was thinking, that the char so cleverly all the arts of society, as if born to the purple, and the light-headed, frivolous, little wife of the Central's engineer were one and the saly, his ressiveness; and the woe, resolved to learn, if possible his intentions Presently, going right to the point, she asked: "Is that extraordinary looking creature you had in your office still with you, Mr Bansehed loudly "He is certainly that, and e does not supply us with an adjective that adequately describes the man"

The people nearest to thee drawing-room; practically, the couple were by the with a woic that it was alell to know one's enemy When she next spoke, it was almost in a whisper