The Press., 1892-04-28

sieur, this pleasure, after twenty-five years interruption of our old acquaint- ance, is indeed appreciated. How much we have to talk over, the changes of time, old friends in France and all that. And you will surely forgive me for not welcoming you when you arriyed"-
 "You knock me silly, madame, as l Washington say at Trenton, !" interrupted ! the marquis. II comprendez-it vas ze toilette zat detain you. catch on,
 s1What is that?" sharply asked his hostess. "I-ah, Mariei Where is she?'
 'In ze boudoir," responded he. 'ze last word she say, Old man, give me not away she refer to ze costume" ''Give away her costu1ne!" said Mrs. | Cathcart, in stunned sort of way. ''1 do not understand" Ralph had been on tenter hooks all this time; he feared an explosion was at hand. With smothered exclamation he ran out of the room to seek Jardine and Evvy. His mother looked after him. 7
 'sIt is nozzings," said the marquis l happily. 'sIt is ze razzle dazzle, ze skates, as Hawzorn call it. Mrs. Cathcart edged away from him Really" she began, when he broke in: ''You astonish wiz my duency in ze Anglais? Ralph he teach me, l teach | Marie"
 Mrs. Cathcart caught her breath; she knew her son of old.
 s'Ralph taught you English" she said, crimson flood spreading across hel face, light breaking in upon her. 1 ''Mais oui, answered the smiling mar quis. t'I will speak no ozer tong-it is | ravishment. You must hear Marie; she climb all over me, as zey say in ze school at Concord"
 She had not word to say. What could she have said? But her anger fo, Ralph was something more than normal "Oui," her guest was volubly going on, 'sMarie she work ze Anglais for all it is worth.
 And then Tom Jardine was with them. his face match for hers.
 "Tom," {" said she, "have you heard that Ralph is responsible for sthe English of l the marquis and his daughter | "It is simply outrageous" returned l that young man. And Eyyy wishes us all to talk this way in order to screen Ralph. I've just had a tiff with her re. garding the matter"
 t'Tiffv cried the marquis ''Zat is ze same as scrap, eh?' sPardon me, monsieur" said Mrs | Cathcart: 'sallow me-Mr. Tom Jar. | dine."
 The marquis grasped Jardine's> hand. "Ah," he nurmured, Ralph he tell me | you will be ze mari-ze husband o! | Mees Cathcart. l congratulate you, sair. Mees Cathcart is too sweet for l any use. Madame, je lui en ai fait mon compliment"
 Jardine was thoroughly angry man The happy frame of mind of Ralph's victim did not tend to placate him. He heard sound out in the hall, and he l thought it was Ralph come to see how | he would disport himself. He did not care what happened, the marquis should not be made jest of any further.
 Monsieur" he said, Il regret to say | that miserable practical ioke''- He got no further, for it had not been Ralph in the hall: instead, there stood {; vision of youth and beauty, one of the 1 fairest of the lilies of France, and ar rayed in the Solomon glory of Felix
 Mrs. Cathcart went toward her with outstretched arms Marie, she said, my dear child, est ce bien vous? is it really your and Marie, standing there bashfully, her beautiful eyes raised gently. merely an swered:
 "Ah, zare!''
 Mrs. Cathcart fell back. Marie" called her father, ..salute madamei''
 Marie raised her coral lips to the elder lady, and wondered at the chasteness oi the salute she received.
 'sMarie," said the marquis, .sbehold ze fance of Mees Cathcart, Mistair Tommy Garden. An. you must hear Marie's E-english. 7
 Marie, lowing low to Jardine, mod. estly said:
 Papa, you make me tired, go take ze walk and get ze hair cut" Mrs. Cathcart, who was now begin ming to look something like novelist's duchess, and not so much like a morti fled woman. here interposed:
 "Marie," she said, II am sorry, heart fly sorry"-when her heart failed her the girl seemed so happy-'sI mean, you are looking lovely. ]"
 "Oh," returned Marie in a low voice, her eyes downcast. "vat are you giving us, taffy?"
 "I mean" Mrs. Cathcart went on he.