DALE.--"She is not what is called regularly handsome, but she has something very winning." RICCABOCCA (with a smile).--"So winning, that it is strange she is not won.

That gray mare in the foreground stands out very boldly!" MRS.

DALE (distrusting the smile of Riccabocca, and throwing in a more effective grape-charge).--"Not won yet; and it is strange! she will have a very pretty fortune." RICCABOCCA.--"Ah!" MRS.DALE.

"Six thousand pounds, I dare say,--certainly four." RICCABOCCA (suppressing a sigh, and with his wonted address).--"If Mrs.
Dale were still single, she would never need a friend to say what her portion might be; but Miss Jemima is so good that I am quite sure it is not Miss Jemima's fault that she is still--Miss Jemima!" The foreigner slipped away as he spoke, and sat himself down beside the whist-players.
Mrs.Dale was disappointed, but certainly not offended.

"It would be such a good thing for both," muttered she, almost inaudibly.
"Giacomo," said Riccabocca, as he was undressing that night in the large, comfortable, well-carpeted English bedroom, with that great English four-posted bed in the recess which seems made to shame folks out of single blessedness, "Giacomo, I have had this evening the offer of probably L6000, certainly of four thousand." "Cosa meravigliosa!"-- ["Miraculous thing."]--exclaimed Jackeymo, and he crossed himself with great fervour.