, 1885-01-27


.son. browne Degan 10 fe1T as Il -
did not care whether his wife was fiirt-
ing with Captain Cannon OF not He
would show her that If she was incapa-
BILE of ~appreciating his Vaccinations
there were other women who possessed
more discernment.
what can 1 get youP" he inquired,
as they entered the refreshment-room.
"A cup Of tea, please"
Sure you won't have d glass Of
sherry, OF something Of that sortP You
look tired"
They arc not allowed to sell wine
here. Very stupid. isn't itP"
And to do the fair unknown justice,
she seemed to regard the absence of
more potent fluids as q very real depri-
walton. So Browne ordered the tea,
and some Strawberries and cream, and
selecting a corner table, was soon en-
gagged in q most interesting converse
ton.
Would you think me unpardonably
rude If / asked your namep" he pres
emily said. ''Mine is Ramsbury
Browne" he added. producing a card.
s.ReallyP Do you know, l am GER
tain l have met you before somewhere.
AtLady Teddington'sP MOI Then it
must have been at Lord Cramleigh's or
Sir Crnsus Napkins. 1 am Mrs. Her
rington; my husband Is in the Thirty
third Lancers. you know"
II remember you perfectly" cried
Browne. enraptured. Charmed to
renew our acquaintance In so delight
full a mannerl'
Browne had not the faintest recollec-
ton of Mrs. Harrington, but he did not
like to own that he was not on visiting
terms with such exalted personages as
Lady Teddington. Lord Cramleigh and
Sir Crnsus Nupkin.
They grew more and more confident
ial, and the afternoon slipped away
imperceptibly-at all events to Mr.
Browne.
might l ask to be allowed to CALI"
he inquired, emboldened by the lady's
affability.
"'Weli, l suppose it's not at all prop
err" she answered diffidently, ''but 1
shall be very glad to see you any Fri
day at 150 Curzon street."
sYou may depend upon me-" said
Browne, as he noted down the address
AT this moment he happened to raise
his eyes, which he had hitherto kept
pretty constantly on his fair companion,
and the sight which met them caused a
cold shudder to run down his back. At
the next table but one sat no less a per-
sonage than Mrs. Grewser. his mother
in-law, the only person Of whom he
really stood in fear, and beside her was
his wife. The elder lady's eyes were
fixed upon him with a stony glare Of
horror, while a flush of indignation lent
additional beauty to the face of Mrs
Browne. They had evidently been there
for some minutes and must certainly
have noticed him writing down Mrs
Herrington's address. Browne vainly
tried to persuade himself that he had
done nothing to DO ashamed of-he
withered in his chair and devoutly
wished that the floor would open an@
swallow him up.
"What Is tho matterP" asked Mrs.
Harrington, sympathetioally; .'you look
quite pale and agitated-n
Nothing stammered the unfortu-
nate man; sssome people / did not ok
pect 10 see. Rather sudden, you know,
II startled me a %little.n
pray go and speak to them Don't
let me detain you"
"'Well, If you will excuse me n mo-
ment-"
eBy all means"
And Browne rose in a feeble manner
and advanced towardhis outraged rela-
tives.
How do you do, Mrs. Grewserp"
said he, with the courage of despera-
ton. 'sThis is quite nj unexpected
pleasure"
$50 l should think, indeedr' rejoined
the lady in a tragic whisper, ignoring
his proffered hand; s'and mayI ask who
that creature isP"
ssOh. certainly. Mrs. Harrington, wife
OF a man in the Thirty-third Lancers.
Met her at Sir Crnsus Nupkin's."
II don't believe you, Ramsbury," re-
tortedh his mother-in-law. '~.Introduce me
to her at oncei'
Browne turned to obey, but Mrs Her
rington had m~ysteriously vanished.
dear me, how odd But she lives at
100 Curzon street. We can go and
call"
'160 Curzon s~treetl' almost shrieked
Mrs. Grewser. There is no such num-
berl That women is no more the wife
of n man in the Lancers than / am; and
this, sir. is the way you deceive your
poor wife, whom you worry to death
withyour abominable suspicious. Icame
up to town this morning to protect her
from your insults, and this is what j
find. H-London Truth.