A Plucky Girl

at the other. I don't really know how I got placed between two such uncongenial people, but perhaps it was good fo

many a grand West End dinner which I had attended in my palmy days), Miss Armstrong bent tow

uld give me a

m?" I aske

have ever met. What are his tastes? Don't you know a

t him," I answered in a low, steady voice, which was in m

e contemplation of her soup. Her plate was taken awa

m before. You must have met him before, you know; he would not come to a house like this if he was

remarks at dinner," I said, loo

delicious turbot was now facing her, she began

peak, and Mrs. Armstrong's manners were only

mphatic tone. "Marion has a great taste for h'Art, and she wants to attend one of the schools

ever studied Art myself, havin

ess and at the way my hair was arranged as she spoke. "You are very stylish, you know; you are a good-

s had never felt more hot, no

across my back at Miss Armstrong, and said, still in he

w to this business any one can see; but, Marion, by-and-by you might ask her if she would lend you that bodice to take

"O mother, do hush;" and thus

savoir faire which could not but arouse my admiration. The upper part of the table seemed to be in a very peaceful condition, and I presently perceived that Mr. Randolph led the conversation. He was having an argument on a subject of public interest with Captain Furlong, and Captain Furlong was replying, and Mr. Randolph was distinctly

n end, and at last

ehind, dear," said

nto her tiny little par

good long table all surrounded with people pleased with their dinner, and in high good humour, and you were the cause of the success, let me tell you, dear. They will

and I am sure the tears filled my eyes; "the compa

make a good cake," was Jane

at do yo

t of this sort. I call them the flour of the cake. Now, flour is not interesting stuff, at least uncombined with other things; but you cannot make a cake without it. People of that sort will go to the attics, and if we don't let the attics, my dear Miss Wickham, the thing won't pay. Every attic in the place must be let, and to people who will pay their weekly accounts

you have all the burden, and mother and I al

it, and three times was I disappointed. The first man jilted me, dear, and the second died, and the third went into an asylum. I'm Mullins now, and Mullins I

said. She really was a

, kept them all more or less in order. He told a few good stories for the benefit of the company, and then he sat down to the piano and sang one or two songs. He had a nice voice, not brilliant, but sweet and a real tenor, and he pronounced his words distinctly, and every one could listen, and e

se of the evening he

gratulate y

answered some

ld not understand, which I did not understand until many months afterwards. I was

moment, "it was good of you to entertain our guests,

n with a grave and not ea

my own inclinations. I was in the humour to sing, I sing most nights wherever I am. If you object to my sin

house," was my next remark; and then I sai

either of us are out of place, and that the house suits us very well. I like it; I expect I shall be extremely comfortable. Jane Mullins is an old friend of m

are much about dinners, but it seemed

the very best. No, Miss Wickham, I am afraid, whether you like it or not, you cannot get rid of me at present; but I

rey eyes, quite ordinary in shape and colour, but they had a wonderfully quizzical glance, and I felt a sort of fear, that when he seemed to sympathise he was laughing at me; I also felt certain that I had seen him before. Who was he? How was it possible that a ma

making frank comments on all she saw, complaining of the high prices, but never for a moment vouchsafing to give up her large front attic, which was indeed a bedroom quite comfortable enough for any lady. She must have written

over what his special tastes were. When she questioned him, he declared that he liked everything. Music?-certainly, he adored music. Art?-yes, he did sketch a little. The drama?-

tions about this man. Where did he come from? Who was he? What was his profes

the last question, I f

g then, and she turned to Mrs. Cousins' daughter, who had come up to town with a view

r dinner dress. They wore low dresses, with short sleeves, and gay colours, and their ha

ever divine, but he seemed to be having the effect which

of the second week, that she fea

ems to be having," she said, "I might have doubled our pri

ecessary for us to make

me with a que

I want the house to pay, and although it is a delightful house, and there are many guests coming and going, and it promises soon to be quite full, yet it must remain ful

traight before her,

e always regarded as eminently respectable. We ought to have some clergymen in the house, and some nice unmarried ladies, who will take rooms and settle down, and give a sort of religious respe

f the girls of the Armstrong type came in greater and greater numbers, and if they insisted on wearing all the colours of the rainbow at dinner, and v

in the drawing-room, evidently in the hopes of catching Mr. Randolph's eye. She did this every evening for a week without any result, but at the end of that time he caught sight of a frightfully out-of-drawing charcoal study. It was the sort

he artist?

is a little study." Her

d at it with that half-quizzical, half-earnest glance, which puzzled not only Miss Arm

nd be spoiled," he said. "Is it for sale?"

f abashed and delighted. "It is not wor

did say that Marion had the h'artist's soul. It shines out of her eyes, at least I am proud to think so; and Mario

awing," said Mr. Randolph, immediately putting on his coldes

fended him," said Marion, n