CHAPTER XII.
HARRY ANNESLEY'S SUCCESS.
Harry Annesley, a day or two after he had left Tretton, went down to Cheltenham; for he had received an invitation to a dance there, and with the invitation an intimation that Florence Mountjoy was to be at the dance.

If I were to declare that the dance had been given and Florence asked to it merely as an act of friendship to Harry, it would perhaps be thought that modern friendship is seldom carried to so great a length.
But it was undoubtedly the fact that Mrs.Armitage, who gave the dance, was a great friend and admirer of Harry's, and that Mr.Armitage was an especial chum.

Let not, however, any reader suppose that Florence was in the secret.

Mrs.Armitage had thought it best to keep her in the dark as to the person asked to meet her.

"As to my going to Montpelier Place," Harry had once said to Mrs.Armitage, "I might as well knock at a prison-door." Mrs.Mountjoy lived in Montpelier Place.
"I think we could perhaps manage that for you," Mrs.Armitage had replied, and she had managed it.
"Is she coming ?" Harry said to Mrs.Armitage, in an anxious whisper, as he entered the room.
"She has been here this half-hour,--if you had taken the trouble to leave your cigars and come and meet her." "She has not gone ?" said Harry, almost awe-struck at the idea.
"No; she is sitting like Patience on a monument, smiling at grief, in the room inside.