He rushed down-stairs into the hall, where young Thursby was wrapping Ruth in her white furs, while Mr.Thursby senior was encasing Mrs.Alwynn in a species of glorified ulster of red plush which she had lately acquired.

Dare hastily drew Mr.Alwynn aside and spoke a few words to him.

Mr.Alwynn turned to his wife, after one rueful glance at his thin shoes, and said: "I will walk up.

It is a fine night, and quite dry underfoot." "And a very pleasant party it has been," said Mrs.Alwynn, as she and Ruth drove away together, "though Mrs.Thursby has not such a knack with her table as some.

Not that I did not think the chrysanthemums and white china swans were nice, very nice; but, you see, as I told her, I had just been to Stoke Moreton, where things were very different.