The Red Rat’s Daughter

an one occasion he had entertained royalty at his house in Park Lane, and at various times he had invited London society to functions which, for magnificence and completeness, had scarcel

h he drove to the restaurant which was to be honoured with Katherine P

ng, nor must it be in the least degree heavy. You know my taste in wine, and I give you carte blanche to ransack London for what you consider necessary in the way of rarities

hands. This was just the sort o

when pleased. “I have made you many, many dinners before, but I give you the word of Alphonse that this shall be the

young man; “remember, it must be the best i

that. It is my honour. Perhaps it is r

ne replied scornfully. “I am aski

prise. It looked as if his beauti

le period elapsed before he could obtain speech with him. Jimmy was at the Welter Club, playing black pool with two or three youths of his own type. From the manner in which their silver was changing hand

black ball had disappeared into the top pocket and whil

Judging from the anxious expression upon Jimmy’s fac

game, and, putting his arm through that of his friend, l

my as they seated themselves near the fire. “To wha

ed, a little nervously, for he was afraid of

an,” said the latter. “You have only t

of the matter is, I have asked two ladies to dine with me tomorrow evening at Lal

g Norwegian picture,” said Jimmy, with impertu

blushing like a schoolboy, for the simple re

that you were counting the hours until you could say ‘good-bye’ to her. We went for a walk, and as we passed up Waterloo Place I happened to show you a picture. You turned as white as a sheet at once, and immediately dived into the shop, bidding me wait outside. When you reappeared you acted the part of an amiable lunatic; talked a lot of bosh about preferring fogs to sunshine; and when I informed you th

seberry?” asked Browne savagely. “It’s

urse — a commodity you will never possess if you go on like this. You are spoons on this girl, I suppose, and since

retorted Browne, now t

plied. “Don’t I know by experience exac

are very clever

me, I shall be only too glad to come to your dinner; but, mind, I take no responsibility for what happe

absolve you from all responsibility. At any

t think you quite know me yet. I talk a lot of nonsense, I’m afraid; but as far as you are concerned you may depend the heart’s in the right place. Now I come to think of it, I am not quit

ontemplated such a thing. It’s always the way; directly a man shows a little extra courtesy to a woman, talks to her five minutes longer than he is accustomed to do, perhaps, or dances w

stance, it is not to be wondered that his friends think there is something in the a

better meet me there a few minutes before.

orget it,” said Jimmy

d-bye until tom

ause, and then Brown

as quite inconsistent with the apparent importance

mmy replied. “I don’t thi

ent out into the street. He hailed a cab,

ligible for matrimony he had been the especial prey of mothers with marriageable daughters. They had fawned upon him, had petted him, and in every way had endeavoured to effect his capture. Whether or not Katherine Petrovitch knew of his wealth it was impossible for him to say. He hoped she did not. It was his ambition in life to be loved, and be loved for himself alone. If she would trust him, he would devote his whole life to making her happy, and to proving how well founded was the faith she had reposed in him. Vitally important as the question was, I believe he had never for one moment doubted her. His nature was too open for that, while she herself, like C?sar’s wife, was of course above suspicion. The fact that she had confessed to him that her family was prohibited in Russia only served to intensify his admiration for her truthful qualities. Though he knew nothing of her history or antecedents, it never for one moment caused him any uneasiness. He loved her for herself, not for her family. When he went to bed t

single moment that he preferred the tiny sheet he carried in his coat-pocket to her own epistles, it is certain her feelings would have been painful