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Mrs Everard did not keep us waiting long in the private salon to which ere shown She fluttered down, arrayed in a wonderful "art" gown of terra-cotta and pale blue hues cunningly inter me with demonstrative fervour Then she held me a little distance off, and examined me attentively

"Do you know," she said, "you are simply in lovely condition! I never would have believed it You are actually as plump and pink as a peach And you are the same creature that wailed and trembled, and had palpitations and headaches and stupors! Your doctor ician I think I must consult him, for I am sure I don't look half as well as you do"

And indeed she did not I thought she had a tired, dragged appearance, but I would not say so I knew her well, and I was perfectly aware that though she was fascinating and elegant in every way, her life was too rossed in trifles ever to yield her healthy satisfaction

After responding war, I said: "Amy, you must allow me to introduce the sister of my doctor to you Madame Zara Casimir--Mrs Everard"

Zara, who hadon our , now turned, and with her own radiant sloved hand

"I a accents of hers which were like ht yet tender gesture, "has also become mine; but I do not think we shall be jealous, shall we?"

Mrs Everard made some attempt at a suitable reply, but she was so utterly lost in admiration of Zara's beauty, that her habitual self- possession almost deserted her Zara, however, had theherself at ho cheerfully and without constraint When the Colonel made his appearance, which he did very shortly, he too was "taken off his feet," as the saying is, by Zara's loveliness, and the same effect was produced on the Challoners, who soon afterwards joined us in a body

Mrs Challoner, in particular, see her eyes froloith pride and pleasure as I noted how greatly she was admired Miss Effie Challoner alone, as, by a certain class of young o in her," opposed her stock of physical charms to those of Zara, with a certain air of feminine opposition; but she was only able to keep this barrier up for a little ti power of attraction was toocaptive to the enticing gentleness, the intellectual superiority, and the sympathetic influence exercised by the evenly balanced temperament and character of the beautiful woman I loved so well