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But when the coh, and were unfortunate Who does not know the effect made by the absence of one or two frorievous are the erace which the hostess has endeavoured to preserve are these interstices, how the lady in her wrath declares to herself that those guilty ones shall never have another opportunity of filling a seat at her table? So their wives, had slunk froements, and the empty spaces were sufficient to declare a united purpose A week since it had been understood that ad could not be had for love or money, and that a seat at the dinner-table was as a seat at soh the room were but half-filled There were six absences from the City Another six of Mr Melmotte's own political party were away The archbishops and the bishop were there, because bishops never hear worldly tidings till after other people;--but that very Master of the Buckhounds for whom so much pressure had been made did not come Two or three peers were absent, and so also was that editor who had been chosen to fill Mr Alf's place One poet, two painters, and a philosopher had received tione home The three independent reed in their policy, and would not lend the encourageery Nearly forty places were vacant when the business of the dinner commenced

Melmotte had insisted that Lord Alfred should sit next to hi had the objectionable bar removed, and his own chair shoved one step nearer to the centre, had carried his point With the anxiety natural to such an occasion, he glanced repeatedly round the hall, and of course became aware that many were absent 'How is it that there are so many places empty?' he said to his faithful Achates

'Don't know,' said Achates, shaking his head, steadfastly refusing to look round upon the hall

Melain, and asked the question in another shape: 'Hasn't there been some mistake about the numbers? There's room for ever so many more'

'Don't know,' said Lord Alfred, as unhappy in hishimself that he had ever seen Mr Melmotte