g to Basil。〃
〃Yes； and there is no one to talk to me。 Ethel and the Englishman would pass an hour or two very nicely； and your father is very fond of foreigners。 I think you ought to ask Ethel to introduce him to us； then we could have a little dinner for him and invite him to our opera boxdon't you agree with me； Bryce？〃
〃If Dora does。 Of course； at this time； Dora's wishes and engagements are the most important。 I have seen the young man at the club with Shaw McLaren and about town with Judge Rawdon and others。 He seems a nice little fellow。 Jack Lacy wanted to introduce me to him yesterday； but I told him I could live without the honor。 Of course； if Dora feels like having him here that is a very dif… ferent matter。 He is certainly distinguished looking； and would give an air to the wedding。〃
〃Is he handsome； Bryce？〃
〃Yesand no。 Women would rave about him； men would think him finical and dandified。 He looks as if he were the happiest fellow in the worldin fact； he looked to me so provokingly happy that I disliked him； but now that Dodo is my little sister again； I can be happy enough to envy no one。〃
Then Dora slipped her hand into her brother's hand； and Bryce knew that he might take his way to his little office in William Street； the advent of Mr。 Mostyn into his life being now as certain as anything in this questionable； fluctuating world could be。 As he was sauntering down the avenue he met Ethel and he turned and walked back with her to the Denning house。 He was so good…natured and so good…humored that Ethel could not avoid an inquisitive look at the usually glum young man； and he caught it with a laugh and said； 〃I suppose you wonder what is the matter with me； Miss Rawdon？〃
〃You look more than usually happy。 If I suppose you have found a wife or a fortune； shall I be wrong？〃
〃You come near the truth； I have found a sister。 Do you know I am very fond of Dora and we have made up our quarrel？〃
Then Ethel looked at him again。 She did not believe him。 She was sure that Dora was not the only evoker of the unbounded satisfaction in Bryce Denning's face and manner。 But she let the reason pass； she had no likely arguments to use against it。 And that day Mrs。 Denning； with a slight air of injury； opened the subject of Mr。 Mostyn's introduction to them。 She thought Ethel had hardly treated the Dennings fairly。 Everyone was wondering they had not met him。 Of course； she knew they were not aristocrats and she supposed Ethel was ashamed of them； but； for her part； she thought they were as good as most people； and if it came to money； they could put down dollar for dollar with any multi…millionaire in America； or England either； for that matter。
When the reproach took this tone there seemed to be only one thing for Ethel to say or to do； but that one thing was exactly what she did not say or do。 She took up Mrs。 Denning's reproach and complained that 〃her relative and friend had been purposely and definitely ignored。 Dora had told her plainly she did not wish to make Mr。 Mostyn's acquaintance； and； in accord with this feeling； no one in the Denning family had called on Mr。 Mostyn； or shown him the least courtesy。 She thought the whole Rawdon family had the best of reasons for feeling hurt at the neglect。〃
This view of the case had not entered Mrs。 Denning's mind。 She was quickly sorry and apologetic for Dora's selfishness and her own thoughtlessness； and Ethel was not difficult to pacify。 There was then no duty so imperative as the arrangement of a little dinner for Mr。 Mostyn。 〃We will make it quite a family affair；〃 said Mrs。 Denning； 〃then we can go to the opera afterwards。 Shall I call on Mr。 Mostyn at the Holland House？〃 she asked anxiously。
〃I will ask Bryce to call；〃 said Dora。 〃Bryce will do anything to please me now； mother。〃
In this way； Bryce Denning's desires were all arranged for him； and that evening Dora made her request。 Bryce heard it with a pronounced pout of his lips； but finally told Dora she was 〃irresistible；〃 and as his time for pleasing her was nearly out； he would even call on the Englishman at her request。
〃Mind！〃 he added； 〃I think he is as proud as Lucifer； and I may get nothing for my civility but the excuse of a previous engagement。〃
But Bryce Denning expected much more than this； and he got all that he expected。 The young men had a common ground to meet on； and they quickly became as intimate as ever Frederick Mostyn permitted himself to be with a stranger。 Bryce could hardly help catching enthusiasm from Mostyn on the subject of New York； and he was able to show his new acquaintance phases of life in the marvelous city which were of the greatest interest to the inquisitive Yorkshire squire Chinese theaters and opium dives； German； Italian； Spanish； Jewish； French cities sheltering themselves within the great arms of the great American city； queer restaurants； where he could eat of the national dishes of every civilized country under the sun； places of amusement； legal and illegal； and the vast under side of the evident lifeall the uncared for toiling of the thousands who work through the midnight hours。 In these excursions the young men became in a way familiar； though neither of them ever told the other the real feelings of their hearts or the real aim of their lives。
The proposed dinner took place ten days after its suggestion。 There was nothing remarkable in the function itself； all millionaires have the same delicacies and the same
wines； and serve these things with precisely the same ceremonies。 And； as a general thing； the company follow rigidly ordained laws of conversation。 Stories about public people； remarks about the weather and the opera； are in order； but original ideas or decided opinions are unpardonable social errors。 Yet even these commonplace events may contain some element that shall unexpectedly cut a life in two； and so change its aims and desires as to virtually create a new character。 It was Frederick Mostyn who in this instance underwent this great personal change； a change totally unexpected and for which he was absolutely unprepared。 For the people gathered in Mrs。 Denning's drawing…room were mostly known to him； and the exceptions did not appear to possess any remarkable traits； except Basil Stanhope； who stood thoughtfully at a window； his pale； lofty beauty wearing an air of expectation。 Mostyn decided that he was naturally impatient for the presence of his fiancee； whose delayed entrance he perceived was also annoying Ethel。 Then there was a slight movement； a sudden silence； and Mostyn saw Stanhope's face flush and turn magically radiant。 Mechanically he followed his movement and the next moment his eyes met Fate； and Love slipped in between。 Dora was there； a fairy…like vision in pale amber draperies； softened with silk lace。 Diamonds were in her wonderfully waved hair and round her fair white neck。 They clasped her belt and adorned the instep of her little amber silk slippers。 She held a yellow rose in her hand； and yellow rosebuds lay among the lace at her bosom； and Mostyn； stupefied by her undreamed…of loveliness； saw golden emanations from the clear pallor of her face。 He felt for a moment or two as if he should certainly faint； only by a miracle of stubborn will did he drag his consciousness from that golden…tinted； sparkling haze of beauty which had smitten him like an enchantment。 Then the girl was looking at him with her soft； dark； gazelle eyes； she was even speaking to him； but what she said； or what reply he made； he could never by any means remember。 Miss Bayard was to be his companion； and with some effort and a few indistinct words he gave her his arm。 She asked if he was ill； and when a shake of the head answered the query； she covered the few minutes of his disconcertion with her conversation。 He looked at her gratefully and gathered his personality together。 For Love had come to him like a two… edged sword； dividing the flesh and the spirit； and he longed to cry aloud and relieve the sweet torture of the possession。
Reaction； however； came quickly； and with it a wonderful access of all his powers。 The sweet； strong wine of Love went to his brain like celestial nectar。 All the witty； amusing things he had ever heard came trooping into his memory； and the dinner was long delayed by his fine humor； his pleasant anecdotes； and the laughing thoughts which others caught up and illustrated in their own way。
It was a feast full of good things； but its spirit was not able to bear transition。 The company scattered quickly when it was over to the opera or theater or to the rest of a quiet evening at home； for at the end enthusiasm of any kind has a chilling effect on the feelings。 None of the party understood this result； and yet all were； in their way； affected by the sudden fall of mental temperature。 Mr。 Denning went to his library and took out his private ledger； a penitential sort of reading which he relished after moods of any kind of enjoyment。 Mrs。 Denning selected Ethel Rawdon for her text of disillusion。 She 〃thought Ethel had been a little jealous of Dora's dress；〃 and Dora said； 〃It was one of her surprises； and Ethel thought she ought to know everything。〃 〃You are too obedient to Ethel；〃 continued Mrs。 Denning and Dora looked with a charming demureness at her lover； and said； 〃She had to be obedient to some one wiser than herself；〃 and so slipped her hand into Basil's hand。 And he understood the promise； and with a look of passionate affection raised the little jeweled pledge and kissed it。
Perhaps no one was more affected by this chill； critical after…hour than Miss Bayard and Ethel。 Mostyn accompanied them home； but he was depressed； and his courtesy had the air of an obligation。 He said he had a sudden headache； and was not sorry when the ladies bid him 〃good night〃 on the threshold。 Indeed； he felt that he must have refused any invitation to lengthen out the hours with them or anybody。 He wanted one thing； and he wanted that with all his soulsolitude； that he might fill it with images of Dora； and with passionate promises that either by fair means or by foul； by right or by wrong； he would win the bewitching woman for his wife。
CHAPTER IV
〃WHAT do you think of the evening； Aunt Ruth？〃 Ethel was