Our Own Set

eft destitute through the disaster. Of course the opportunity was immediately seized upon for charitable dissipations, for qualifyi

the duty of taking the lead devolved upon her. The rooms in her Palazzo were made on purpose for grand festivities, and after endless discussion it was decided that the enterta

s to sing the soprano part; Crespigny took that of a husband or a guardian in a nightcap or flowered dressing-gown, and a young French painter, M. Barillat, who was at all times equally ready to sketch or to wear a becoming costume, was to fill that of the lover. The cast of the little French play was equally satisfactory; but when the arrangement of the tableaux came to be considered difficulties arose. In the first place all the ladies were eager to display their charms under the becoming light of a tableau vivant; and the number of volunteers was quite bewildering to the committee of management that met every day at the Ilsenberghs' house. Then squabbles and dissatisfaction arose; the ladies did not approve of the choice of s

appear; and Sterzl, being personally requested by his ambassador, submitted, though with an ill grace, to be the executioner in Delaroche's picture of Lady Jane Grey. This tableau was to be the crowning glory of the performance; Barill

sent his excuses. Every lady present expected to find herself called upon to stand--or rather to kneel--as Lady Jane Grey; but Mrs. Ferguson was the first to give utterance to the thought, and to offer herself heroically as Lady Henrietta's substitute. To the astonishment of

. Ferguson," said he, "is

where is the self-sacrifice in having an

coolly. "But it must be a sacrifice for a lady to

like some pretty little wi

have none of that pathetic grace that M

puting over the matter, he found an opportunity of whispering a few words to Barillat

offer Madame la Comtesse; I

d Madame de Gandry, "or a painter's mo

at emphatically declared; "no, the lady in question is a very charming person: Fr?ulein Sterzl. I sa

pleasure," said t

murmured the artist abashed. T

e the matter really too much in earnest. Why on earth should not the girl act with us? O

different," sai

ousin Sempaly. "I am heartily sick of the whole business," she exclaimed. "At home I have

hod among us," replied

able; every one wants to play th

f the republican elem

e Grey tableau," sighed the countess. "Why need that Eng

ys so inconsiderate,"

have met this li

es

es she l

s like a very p

esides

most extraordinary freak of nature! She seems to be very presentable

part of Lady Jane Grey and in Heaven's name let him have his own way!" cried t

let her figure in your tableau and no

I invite Tom, Dick, and Harry, and all the E

i, you are an admirable woman!

had as much tact as pride she had soon reconciled not only Zinka, but her sensitive thin-skinned brother, to the fact that the young girl had only been asked at the last moment and under the pressure of necessity to take part in the performance. Cecil

olitary dignity in the front row, and behind them was packed a fashionable but somewhat mixed crowd. Manly forms of consummate elegance were squeezed against the walls, and the assembly sparkled like a sea of sheeny silks and glittering jewels. Princess Vulpini, who was helping the countess to do the honors, hovered on the margin, g

ich the little Vulpinis looked like a bunch of freshly-gathered roses; the great success of the evening was the tableau of Lady Jane Grey. Sterzl's face in this scene was a perfect tragedy, all the misery of an executioner who adores his victim was legible there. And Zinka!--gazing up to heaven with ecstatic pathos, her whole attitude expressive of sacred resignation

untess Ilsenbergh forgot in its success all the annoyance it had occasioned her. After the collection, which produced a magnificent sum, most of the company dispersed. Ilsenbergh, with his

one of those rare natures who derive not the smallest satisfaction from the homage of men for who

nts. Zinka, unaccustomed to this Southern effusiveness, was remonstrating with some annoyance but without the slightest effect, when Sempaly c

a seat to Zinka's side and in five minute

musical tones; "you saved the whole thing. I detest all amateur per

ry much. Madame de Gandry's

more than enoug

me that you are suffering from gener

erstand by being

tigue produced by a life of perpetual enjoyment; it is I beli

alady and an affectati

o be blasé is the hea

t fit me. I am not blasé, I am not indifferent to anything. Shams, hypocrisy, and meretriciousness irritate me, but wh

nged straightway out of a maundering improvisation into a waltz by Strauss. The countess had no o

or?" he said to Zinka, and they w

y, but gliding and dreamy; in fact she waltzed with uncommon grace. Sempaly had long since lost the subaltern's

ral von Klinger who was watching the graceful couple from a

red then?" ask

enough at present I fancy; what do you say?" He looked stra

r head," he murmured. Suddenly a flash of amusement lighted up his eyes. "Look