The Yellow Holly

by boarders desirous of seeing their friends present on Friday evening. Mrs. Jersey dignified her gatherings with

g his one song of the early Victorian Epoch--sometimes twice when singers were scarce; and Mr. Harmer wore his antiquated dress-suit. On these festive occasions it was tacitly understood that all were to be more or less "dressy," as Mrs. Jersey put i

and "the diamonds" Mrs. Jersey looke

looks she had one--none ever discovered. The usual story, produced by an extra glass of negus, varied so greatly in the telling that the most innocent boarder doubted. But Mrs. Jersey was always treated with respect, and the boarde

ness the house was hard to find, for it occupied the corner of a particularly private square far removed from the Oxford Street traffic. As a kind of haven or back-water, it received into its peace those who found the current of the River of Life running too strong. Decayed ladies, disappointed spinsters, super

West-End jargon, curiously flippant when contrasted with their prim conversation. This was the first time he had been present at Madame's reception, and he was explaining his reasons for coming to Bloomsbury. Mrs. Jersey introduced him as "Leonard Train, the di

ned the highest opinion of his own powers, stood on the hea

ne the business of society and epigrams. We must revert to the Dickens style. I have therefore taken up my residence here for a

nscious of her weak grammar, looked uneasily at Miss Bull, who smiled grimly and then glared at Train. Granger drew himself up and pulled his gray mustache; he was the buck of the establishment, and Harmer nodded, saying, "Well, well!" his usual remark when he did n

otherly manner; "I hope you will sa

uth, Madame. The tru

d a compliment. "That depends, Mr. Train. If t

y. Train, who had already set his face for a smile, grew red, and Madame darted a look at Miss Bull quite out of keeping with

-room she would finish the game in her bedroom, and sometimes sat up half the night when her luck was bad. To abstain on this society evening always annoyed her, and since Madame had been rude Miss Bull seized the opportunity to show her indifference, and enjoy, by doing so, her f

th a song," suggested Madame, smoothin

music, and read the words as he sang. Margery played his accompaniment without looking at the notes. She was as familiar with them as she was with the moment when Mr. Granger's voice would crack. This night he cracked as us

politely. "Do you know 'Wi

e conversation. "Now there's a song," said he--"'Will-o-the-Wisp.' I

aid Mrs. Taine in her fat voice. "Give me so

heard Sims Reeves s

id Leonard, to whom th

erhaps you have heard

ut my grand

ald head in a near mirror. "I was a mere child myself whe

ed about," replied Leonard, with

ne hand over the other. "In my young days we talked of Wagner

" sighed another old lady, who prided hers

Granger. "There are no

lve and Melba?

nger, getting out of the difficulty.

mes from

foreigner, I tell you.

an impertinent young man. Madame, seeing that the old gentleman was ruffled, hastily inte

hot youth. Afterward he begged for the "Mabel Waltz." Meantime Margery was sitting in the corner with

s," she said; "they are old

e. I shall stop here thre

till in a motherly way; "now, that you have found us out, we cannot lose you. By t

se. I am not disappointed--oh, not at all--" and Leonard glanced at Margery, who was fat, dull and stupid in

eman?" asked Madame,

But he is coming

duce him. I should like to thank hi

room," said Train, dubiously; "he's such a s

Madame looked round and shrugged. "It i

eady was beginning to find the Dickens types rather

ame is Rasper. A great invent

as he i

over the back of an envelope and the stump of a pencil. He frowned as he chewed this latter, and seemed bent upon working out an abstruse problem. "But it will really will not do, Mr. Train," said Madame, shaking her head till "the diamonds

ing at his watch; "but if the fog is very thick I d

but on this night I must break up at ten, as I

" said Train; "my friend and

e became rather hard. "I beg, Mr. Train, th

oth wish to sm

n. But my house is most respectable, and

d away, and he was left to make the best of it. Before he could collect his wits a message came that he

at name were not pleasant. However, she thought no more about the matter, but rebuked Mr.

his envelope and looking up with a dreamy eye. "I was inv

ded in getting him the house in Park Lane he was always dreaming about. But she patted his shoulder and th

maid, dealing the cards, "but I ha

chance of hearing it

shoulders to signify

Mrs. Taine is about

s in the establishme

ed Miss Bull, in her sharp voic

ing worse. Madame knew that this was just done to annoy her, as Miss Bull's sight was excellent. To revenge he

o as to part her from the old maid. But with the cunning of an animal--and Margery was very much of that type--the girl managed to see a great deal of her one friend. Madame had an idea of the reason for this, but at the present moment did not think it was necessary to int

he said, smiling graciously, "since you have broken through our r

s Bull, looking up

Tell Mr. Rasper if his invention wi

ervice," said the poli

ite willing," she said in a voice almost pleas

why Miss Bull had given way so suddenly. There was some reason for it, as Miss Bull never did anything without a r

sperse to-night at ten. I have some business to attend to, so I request you will all reti

cards to tell them, save that they would one and all die soon, it is difficult to say. Yet so ineradicable is the wish to know the future in the human breast th

owing his courtly manners, and being greedy of compliments, Mrs. Jersey always tried to make him say that she resembled Lady Blessington. But this Mr. Harmer refused to do. Not that Mrs. Jersey was bad-looking. She had a fresh-colored face, bright black eyes, and plenty of white hair like spun silk. Her figure was stout, but she yet retained a certain comeliness which showed that she m

ed Mrs. Taine, leaving the circle roun

be true," said Mr. Harmer, dryly; "unless

n her voice. She might as well have thought to rouse the dead, for Miss Bull paid not t

r-haired and stalwart. He was handsome, but seemed to be ill at ease,

resenting him. "He just managed to g

ried Mrs. Taine, "what is the matter

rself with a powerful effort she waved her hand to intimate that she needed nothing. At the same time her eyes were fastened, not so much on the face of the st

anger, who seemed aston

in, who was alive with curiosity;

y not," she replied calmly, "and yours is n

nt of hesitation as though she was not s

er unnecessarily, and Mrs. Jersey

waved her hand. "We are simple people. Fortune-telling--a little music and the company of my guests. Mrs. Taine,

wer, Mrs. Jersey," he sa

sey, coolly. "I have seen holly with r

father's garden," said Mr. Harmer,

, Mrs. Jersey," said Brend

Keep it, Mr. Brendan. It suits better with your youth," she loo

m of a commonplace ty

nd dark eyes do not usually go toget

lied George, p

er," persiste

he conversation. "What a delig

eorges," she said. "Some of the ceilings are wonderfully painted, and there are all kinds of queer rooms and cupboards and corners in it. And so quiet. I dare say," she w

e astonished at her manner, drank off the wine. He made few remarks, being a man who spoke little in general company. Train

y. A literary man should keep himself away

t, Mr. Brendan?" asked

laughed. "I am not a

t prophesy about yo

Miss Bull was quite willing to do what was asked of her, and spread out the cards. Brendon waited bes

"and the trouble will grow worse. But in the end all will be wel

Brendon, lo

se her eyes. "The lad

's curious look he crushed down his emotion. "At my ag

e. There were the usual dark and fair people, the widow, the journey, the money, and all the rest of the general events and happenings which are usua

on will do that," sa

uffled the cards and fastened her keen black eyes on Mad

ything to amuse. But my fortune has been told so often, and has

were known to most present. Mrs. Jersey laughed and sneered. Suddenly Miss Bull turned up a bla