Countess Olenska will let us include her among our
guests." He got up, bent his long body with a stiff friend-
liness toward his cousin, and added: "I think I have
Louisa's authority for saying that she will herself leave
the invitation to dine when she drives out presently: with
our cards--of course with our cards."

Mrs. Archer, who knew this to be a hint that the seven-
teen-hand chestnuts which were never kept waiting were
at the door, rose with a hurried murmur of thanks. Mrs.
van der Luyden beamed on her with the smile of Esther
interceding with Ahasuerus; but her husband raised a
protesting hand.

"There is nothing to thank me for, dear Adeline; noth-
ing whatever. This kind of thing must not happen in
New York; it shall not, as long as I can help it," he pro-
nounced with sovereign gentleness as he steered his
cousins to the door.

Two hours later, every one knew that the great C-
spring barouche in which Mrs. van der Luyden took the
air at all seasons had been seen at old Mrs. Mingott's
door, where a large square envelope was handed in; and
that evening at the Mr. Sillerton Jackson was able
to state that the envelope contained a card inviting the
Countess Olenska to the dinner which the van der Luy-
dens were giving the following week for their cousin,
the Duke of St. Austrey.

Some of the younger men in the club box exchanged
a smile at this announcement, and glanced sideways at
Lawrence Lefferts, who sat carelessly in the front of the
box, pulling his long fair moustache, and who remarked
with authority, as the soprano paused: "No one but
Patti ought to attempt the Sonnambula."

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