The Press., 1893-06-22

 of the plot. As to Charles, he was SO accustomed to feminine eccentricity in the person of his aunt that the only thing which could surprise him would be 8 rigid observance of etiquette. At 9 o'clock they entered the dining room of No. 3, to find the master of the house absent, red shaded lamp, a snowy cloth, 8 pleasant little feast and the two whom they would have chosen as their com panions A merrier party never met, and the house rang with their laughter and their chatter.
 ''It is minutes to 10," cried Clara suddenly, glancing at the clock.
 "Good gracious! So it is! Now fer our little tableaur' Ida pushed the champagne bottles obtrusively forward in the direction of the door and scattered oyster shells over the cloth.
 "Have you your pipe, Charles?"
 My pipe! Yes.''
 ''Then please smoke it. Now, don't argue about it, but do it, for you will ruin the effect otherwise"
 The large man drewout red case and extracted 8 great yellow meer- 
 was pufing thick wreaths of smoke. Harold had lit 8 cigar, and both the girls had cigarettes.
 ''That looks very nice and emanci- pated," said Ida, glancing round. 'Now I shall lie on this sofa. So! Now, Charles, just sit here and throw your arm carelessly over the back of the sofa. No, don't stop smoking. Hike it. Clara, dear, put your feet upon the coal scuttle and do try to look a little dissipated. l wish we could crown ourselves with flowers. There are some lettuces on the sideboard. Oh, dear, here he isl hear his key."> She began to sing in her high, fresh voice little snatch from 8 French song, with swinging tra-la-la chorus.
 The doctor had walked home from the station in peaceable and relenting frame of mind, feeling that perhaps he had said too much in the morning, that his daughters had for years been models in every way, and that if there had been any change of late it was. as they said themselves, on account of their anxiety to follow his advice and to initiate Mrs. Westmacott. He could see clearly enough now that that advice was un- wise and that a world peopled with Mrs. Westmacotts would not be happy or 8 soothing one. 1t was he who was him. self to blame, and he was grieved by the thought that perhaps his hot words had troubled and saddened his two girls.
 This fear, however, was soon dissi- pated. As he entered his hall he heard the voice of Ida uplifted in a rollicking ditty, and very strong smell of tobacco was borne to his nostrils. He threw open the dining room door and stood aghast at the scene which met his eyes. The room was full of the blue wreaths of smoke, and the lamplight shone through the thin haze upon gold topped bottles, plates, napkins and litter o1 oyster shells and cigarettes Ida, flushed and excited, was reclining upon the set tee, a wineglass at her elbow and ciga- | rette between her fingers, while Charles Westmacott sat beside her, with his arm | thrown over the head of the sofa with the suggestion of a caress. On the other side of the room Clara was lounging in an armchair, with Harold beside her both smoking and both with wineglasses beside them. The doctor stood speech less in the doorway, staring at the bac. chanaian scene.
 "Come in, papa, dor cried Ida. Wont you have glass of champagne"
 'Pray excuse me-" said her father coldly. "I feel that I am intruding. did not know that you were entertaining Perhaps you will kindly Jet me know when you have finished You will find me in my study" He ignored the two young men completely, and closing tht r door retired, deeply hurt and mortified to his room. Aquarter of an hour aft erward he heard the door slam, and his two daughters came to announce that the guests were gone.
 Guests! Whose guests?" he cried an grily. ''What is the meaning of this ex hbition?"
 "We have been giving little supper papa. They were our guests" "Oh, indeed!' the doctor laughed sar l castically. "You think it right, then, te entertain young bachelors late at night to smoke and drink with them, to-oh that should ever have lived to blush for my own daughters! I thank Goo that your dear mother never saw the day" E.
 Dearest papa" cried Clara, throwing her arms about him. Do not be angry with us. If you understood all, you would see there is no harm ill it."
 ''No harm, missl Who is the best judge of that?'
 "Mrs. Westmacott,' suggested Ids slyly. ..
 The doctor sprang from his chair "Confound Mrs. Westmacottv he cried striking frenziedly into the air with hit hands. "Am to hear of nothing bu1 this woman? Is she to confront me al every turn? will endure it no longer.
 "But it was your wish, papa"
 "Then will tell you now what my second and wiser wish is, and we shall see if you will obey it as you have the l first."
 ."Of course we will, papa"
 "Then my wish is that you should for | get these odious notions which you have imbibed, that you should dress and act as you used to do before ever you saw thss woman, and that in future you confne your intercourse with her to such civiH Womnn.s 1lSskake.
 She tries to do too much.