Page 8 (1/1)

But who is to play Marlow? Who is to be the happy h in these fictitious circu beauty of the past season? Nearly every man in the house has thrown out a hint as to his fitness for the part, but as yet no arrangement has been arrived at

Sir Adrian of course is the one tohom all eyes--and some very jealous ones--are directed But his duties as host coainst his will, to draw back a little frouests rather than his own Miss Delly declined to e lover, so that, up to the present moment, matters are still in such a state of confusion and uncertainty that they have been unable to name any date for the production of their play

It is four o'clock, and they are all standing or sitting in the library, intent as usual in discussing the difficulty They are all talking together, and, in the excitement that prevails, no one hears the door open, or the footentleman, who now co over Florence Delmaine's chair

He is a tall man of about thirty-five, with a dark face and dark eyes, and, withal, a slight resemblance to Sir Adrian

"Ah, Arthur, is it you!" says Sir Adrian, in a surprised tone that has certainly no cordiality in it, but, just as certainly, the tone is not repellent

"Yes," replies the stranger, with a languid smile, and without confusion "Yesterday I suddenly recollected the general invitation you gave o to come to you at any time that suited me best This time suits me, and so I have come"

He still smiles as he says this, and looks expectantly at Sir Adrian, who, as in duty bound, instantly tells hiood fellow to have co for a more formal repetition of his invitation Then he takes him over to old Lady FitzAl, and introduces him to her as "h with sos him to Mrs Talbot, that prettyinterrupts his mode of introduction

"Mr Dynecourt and I are old friends," she says, giving her hand to the new-co to her cousin, she adds, "Florence, is it not a fatality ourhim so often?"