or let them get fresh with you. People are afraid of you. I give 'little fool' entertainments, and you may think I don't appreciate dignity. But I do. It's the real thing. I want my wife to be a queen."

Miss Hammond was struggling with a hysterical desire to laugh.

"Then you don't want me to come to your Sing Sing dinner in stripes?"

They're rowdy,

His brow wrinkled with apology. "I don't want you to come at all. I did n't invite you, because the others were n't your crowd. I did n't think you'd enjoy it. that's what they are-rowdy. shake 'em, if you 'll have me. bothered by any Sing Sing dinners or Chuck Connors balls. It's silly, and I'm done with it."

I'm going to
You won't be

From her retreat at the far end of the bench, she surveyed him critically, reflecting that she was at least four inches taller than he. In appearance he was certainly insignificant. Of his mind she knew little, save the report that he managed well the great fortune his father had made for him. Of his ideals and aims she had learned more in the last five minutes than in a year of meeting him at dinners and dances, where he had been merely one of

the well-dressed supernumeraries who completed the stage-picture of society. She could never have guessed that he would promote himself to a speaking part. Absorbed in contemplation of him in his new aspect of human being, she forgot her cue to speak.

66

Are n't you going to answer me?"

Oh, did n't I?" She still fought an impulse to laugh. "It is yes,' Mr. Smith."

She rose as she spoke, with some vague idea of escaping a caress. If she stood, he could hardly kiss her without permission.

"That's splendid!" he cried, quite content. "I'm delighted. Shall we go in and announce it?"

"To mother?"

"To everybody. Half the people we know are here. Would n't this be a good time?

66 But my mother must know first, and my father, who is n't here to-night. Then my mother will announce it in her own way, to her own friends."

66

"Yes, you 're right," he assented, with visible chagrin. It would n't be the correct thing to announce it here. I want to do just what you tell me. Say, are you going to the Anderson ball?"

"Yes, we were going-"

"I'm not asked, but if we announce the engagement before then, I could go with you, could n't I?"

Oh, there 'll be plenty of chances for you to meet Mrs. Anderson," Honor cried. Her fiancé slightly misread her emphasis.

66

Yes, I knew you'd fix that for me. Say, is there any particular stone you prefer?"

66

"Any stone?"

"For the ring, I mean."

"I have n't thought about it."

Because, if you'd like it, I want to give you the Rajah's Rose."

"The what?"

"It's the third largest pigeon's-blood ruby in the world; the largest in a private collection. I always meant it for my wife."

"I shall like it very much.'

"I'll bring it round right after breakfast. You'll wear it right away, won't you? I wish we could announce the engagement to-morrow. I'm so proud of it, I want every one to know."

Oh, I'm not half as nice as you think me. I am very disagreeable. I don't make friends. But I will try to be different. I will try to make other people think as well of me as you do."

"But that's just what I like you for," Smith explained. "Because you 're not hailfellow-well-met with Tom, Dick, and Harry. All these other girls are trying to butt in with everybody. But you act as if all creation was n't good enough to make you look round. That's what I admire you for."

CHAPTER V

MR. ALDEN IS NOT ALTOGETHER PLEASED

OR Denys the evening did not begin till

Fo

that late hour when, all the guests having arrived, and the concert being well under way, he received Mrs. Fanning's permission to take Margery into the deserted library for a little rest before her part of the program.

"Do open the window a moment; I need oxygen," the girl bade. "Oh, Mr. Alden, don't you think I would better jump out on those inhospitable flag-stones?"

66

You poor child! Are you so tired? She sank back into an easy-chair with a deep sigh.

Yes, tired; but worse-scared. In what moment of folly did I undertake to play to-night?"

"It is too much to stand up shaking hands for two hours, and then play," Denys asserted, in deep concern. May n't I get you

some wine, or something?"