Sir Archibald wanted for his girls, only they wouldn't have her with respect to age, but they shall have money, I promise you. There's Lady Marabout for one." "I'd rather hang myself," said the Colonel vehemently. "Very good; she will make excellent. settlements and you will hang yourself afterwards. It sounds unfeeling, but you have just said you didn't care what became of you." "I couldn't do it," said the Colonel positively, "one must stop somewhere, remember, even in self-sacrifice." Langton smiled sardonically; the smile seemed to say, "How on earth should you know that, since you are utterly unacquainted with the subject?" But the other did not notice it. The proposition is not to be thought of," he went on; "how would you like it yourself?" Philip Langton's face had suddenly grown grey and cold as a stone. "Well, I don't mean that, of course, but your suggestion is impossible. My habits areconfirmed. I must have my rubber pretty often. I have not been what people call "at home" till two in the morning for the last twenty years. I have always smoked all over the place. Yes, everywhere," added the Colonel with ferocious vehemence. "I can't go to sleep without tobacco." A smile flickered upon Langton's face, but only for a moment. There was something on his mind a word unawares had thrown it there which was antagonistic to mirth. "What must be must be," he sighed. "When it comes to self-sacrifice it is the woman that has to make it, that is their common lot." "I don't see that Hester, if you mean her, need sacrifice anything," muttered the Colonel. "One would think I was going to sell her to the highest bidder." "No, to do you justice I do not think that; if I did think so I should not be talking to you as I am now." "I am sure you would not; you would give me a piece of your mind and turn your back on me for ever, and quite right too," said the Colonel energetically. "Come, Philip, do stay to dinner. I have not time to dress any more than you. Indeed, for that matter, you would be just as welcome in an ulster." "No," said Langton, but with the air of a man who gives up something pleasant too. "It would not be right. You and your daughter should be alone the first evening, especially as you have something serious to say to her." "Yes, that's just it," murmured the Colonel complainingly. "I have never spoken seriously to the dear girl in my life. It's very hard upon me." "Take care you are not hard upon her," said Langton warningly. "I hard upon my little girl! What sort of brute do you take me for?" Langton nodded kindly-an ample reply to his friend's question-and hearing a light step and a trailing garment on the stairs hurriedly quitted the room. As he closed the front door behind him, his face was full of anxious thought. "There will be trouble in that house," he sighed to himself. "Not to the highest bidder,' said Darrell, which is doubtless true enough, but to dispose of her by private contract might be even worse. A young man,' he said; he had some one in his mind, I know. Heaven forbid it should be the one I have in mine." I AM always in difficulties when I have to describe apparel; it is a thing which does not interest me, which I regret as I regret any other deficiency in my nature. In my youth I have had contemporaries who have been literally "wrapped up" in their clothes, and have envied them their satisfaction. It distresses me to reflect that at the same epoch some of the gentler sex may have taken some pains in this direction for my unworthy sake, which must have been utterly thrown away. It is not only that I have not appreciated it, but I have not seen it. Yet I have no reason to believe that I am colour-blind. If they had attired themselves in purple and fine linen, I think I should have noticed the purple; but anything less pronounced escapes my observation. It is for this reason that my pen is utterly inadequate to describe Hester Darrell as she descends into the drawing-room of No. 99a, Piccadilly. She is, of course, not splendidly arrayed, for such things are not done merely to please papa, yet she gives one the impression of perfect taste. And this is surely the intention of dress; it ought to have the same effect as a soft carpet, that is to say, should produce a general impression of satisfactoriness without any sense of pattern or particularity. I must needs confess (though it may not be to her advantage) that Hester's dress also suggested costliness; it was white, but it was not muslin as she threatened it would be; it was, I am thankful to say, not silk, a material that makes a noise distressing to the nerves, and which sets my teeth on edge to think of; it was not stiff at all but soft and fluffy. She looked as innocent and as perfectly at home in it as a bird in its nest. "How nice my little girl looks!" exclaimed the Colonel, with involuntary admiration. "Let me forget for the moment the fact that I have not yet paid the dressmaker's bill." "That need not detract from your admiration in this case," was the rejoinder, "for I made it myself." "It is impossible," cried the Colonel incredulously. "You would persuade me that the amateur is superior to the professional; as a matter of fact, though some foolish people maintain the contrary, the gamekeeper always shoots better than his master, and the gentleman rider is eclipsed by the jockey." "Nevertheless, I made the whole of it," persisted Hester, extending her white arms to express completeness, " seam and gusset and band, band and gusset and seam. Madame Langlais will corroborate the fact." "No doubt, just as the drawing-master will aver that his pupil's performances are all her own for his own credit. I never dispute a lady's word, my love, but, I reserve for myself the right of private judgment." 'You are very rude, papa. În Paris where I come from, sir, the gentlemen are more polite." "You will find them polite enough here, my dear," replied the Colonel, with involuntary significance. He could have well believed that Hester would have turned out a pretty girl; but he had not been prepared for such exceptional grace and beauty. She had a charm, too, much rarer, that of freshness and naturalness. His life suddenly ebbed back again twenty years. "You remind me of your mother," he said softly. Hester went up to him and kissed him, with the tears in her eyes. "You will not be lonely any more, papa," she whispered, "I will do my best to fill her place." "There is the gong, my dear; let me take you down to dinner." Father and daughter went down the narrow stairs together. "We are very scant of room in this house," he said; "in selecting a chaperon for you, we must look out for a slim one." "A chaperon!" she exclaimed in alarm. "What do I want of chaperons when I have my papa?" "He is too young," answered the Colonel, smiling. They spoke in the French tongue, which was familiar to both of them, because of the butler, an ecclesiastical-looking personage of the proper type; he had been secured, having, by a great stroke of fortune been "out of employ" at the time, “by the job.” "But that is the very reason why there should be no chaperon, papa. It would be scandalous. It is my first duty to protect. your reputation." This The Colonel shook with laughter. was just the sort of daughter that delighted him. He had always loved her, but had not hitherto recognised in her this pleasant drollery and intuitive knowledge of the world. He sighed to think that, thanks to his own folly, she was a luxury that he could not afford to keep for his own pleasure. "I hope you are not sorry," she continued, "that this dragon of a daughter has come home to exercise surveillance over you." "No, my dear, I am not sorry," he answered, with a loving look. "But there is on my side, too, a sense of responsibility. Though what is called an idle man, I am not without my engagements, and shall not be able to be at home with you every hour of the day, as-ahem!-of course I would much prefer to be." Hester laughed aloud. "Such devotion, my dear papa, could, I am sure, have no other end than martyrdom. In less than a week you would be bored to death." "Not at all," said the Colonel eagerly, but with ever so little of a blush. "What!" She held up a pink finger as though reproving some four-footed pet. Her laughter grew louder, like a brook swollen by This simplicity for her attempt to fathom the summer rain, and the Colonel's cheeks his thoughts was rather wide of the mark-grew redder and redder. "What an audacious touched him very much. His face grew young papa it is," she said, "to try and make very tender-and older. He was almost me believe that he would not soon get tired upon the point of giving way to a burst of of the society of a bread-and-butter schoolemotion. There were some things, however, girl!" notwithstanding what folks said to the contrary, that Colonel Richard Darrell felt that he could not afford to indulge in. "You are not the least like anything of the sort," exclaimed the Colonel confidently. "I wish you would take things a little more seriously, Hester; but still, what you say has some sense. Perhaps I had better advertise." "That will be capital!" cried Hester, clapping her hands. "An army of dowagers will file in to No. 99a between two and four, to be interviewed and cross-examined as to their qualifications. I can see my dear young papa at it. One of them--the oldest and ugliest-will faint in his arms, like Mrs. Bardell. There will be employment for gentlemen of the long robe, as the papers say. You will have to compromise for ten thousand pounds, or give me a step-mother." That would be one way out of the difficulty, certainly," said the Colonel ruefully. "Well, I will speak about it to Mrs. Braba 66 "But I don't want callers, dear papa. I have promised Madame Langlais to pursue my studies, and I mean to get you to sub-zon.' scribe to the circulating libraries for all the nice books-for one reads nothing, you know, in France and as for companionship, when I want to talk I'll make nurse Askell come and sit in the drawing-room till you come home to dinner." "But nurse Askell won't do to receive visitors. Suppose Lady Buttermere calls, for instance?" "Why shouldn't I receive her? She won't bite me in London any more than she bit me in the country, will she? I am not the least afraid of Lady Buttermere." "I don't think you are," said the Colonel amiringly, "though I know a good many girls who would shake in their shoes at the mere sight of her. But there are other people-yes-who would think it very odd. No, dear, you must have a chaperon. Now don't you think your friend, Mrs. West, could be induced to come?" "What! and leave her home and her girls to look after me, papa? I am quite sure she would not." "To be sure. I forgot that she had a family. And one could hardly make it worth her while, could one?" inquired the Colonel indecisively. "You could not hire her, if you mean that, papa. Goodness gracious! what an idea!" "But how do young girls get chaperons ? It's a thing which comes altogether new to me, you see." 66 "Oh dear! you are not going to propose to her to come, papa, I do hope!" exclaimed Hester in alarm. "My dear girl, how can you talk such nonsense! But a lady of her position and strong religious principles-" "Eh ?" It was only a monosyllable, but there was a world of significance in it. "My dear child, what do you mean? Do you venture to imply that Mrs. Brabazon is not religious? Why she goes to church-a I am informed-even on week-days. Her views, in fact, are supposed to be a little too extreme-lighted candles in the daytime." "Just as you have at the club," murmured Hester. "My dearest girl," exclaimed the Colonel earnestly, "I entreat of you not to be flippant when speaking of persons of rank and fashion. They are not proper objects of satire, even of playful satire.' "But they are sometimes so funny, dear papa," pleaded Hester. "I don't deny, my dear, that they are very often supremely ridiculous. But it is not wise, and it is not safe to laugh at them. 'It is dangerous,' says the Scripture, to do so even in one's bedchamber, for birds of the air may carry the matter.' "And yet I have heard Mr. Langton make great fun of Mrs. Erabazon, and even of Lord Buttermere, without your expressing disapWell, I suppose so," said Hester comi-proval, papa," observed Hester demurely. cally. "You have never had occasion to advertise for such a thing on your own account, no doubt. Wanted, a chaperon. Apply to Colonel Richard Darrell. The highest references as to character supplied by Philip Langton, Esq., Megatherium Club."" "My dear child, Philip Langton is Philip Langton, a man with a certain position of his own, such as it is; but you--well, you are a young girl who has to make her own way in the world." "I don't understand," said Hester softly, and with a frightened air. She looked in-hastened to put on that armour of paternal voluntarily round the showy little apartment, authority, which to say trutted him but ill. which, more like a French than an English dining-room, was decorated almost in drawing-room style. We are not so very poor, are we, papa?" "We are not paupers, of course, my dear; if anything were to happen to me, you would not have to go out as a lady's maid. I don't mean anything of that sort at all. But relatively to our position we are very far from rich; the fact is, Hester," continued the Colonel earnestly, "fortune has been rather unkind to me. Investments which I had been led to believe were perfect morals-" "Morals?" inquired Hester. You "My dear child, the duty you have to perform is that of every girl in good society, only in your case it is a necessity. It is only a few girls who can indulge in the foolish luxury of what is called a love match; that is to say, who can select from a crowd of suitors, among whom perhaps there is not one pin to choose in other respects, the least eligible as regards fortune. Your tender heart will never be distressed by having to reject any one on account of his poverty, for I shall make it my business that no detrimental shall have the chance of throwing himself under your chariot wheels. have a very good position in the world to start with, and, if a father's fondness does not utterly blind me, you will in a few weeks have all the golden youth of London at your "Dear papa," interposed Hester, her beau-feet. They are not very bright, you may tiful eyes wet with tears, "I am sure you have. Do not distress yourself with the remembrance of our misfortunes. I am very much obliged to you for confiding in me; and now that I know the real state of your affairs will take care to be as little expense to you as possible. This dress which you praised so much, for instance, though it is not so expensive a one as you imagined, ought never to have been put on this evening, only I wanted to look nice in your dear eyes." "It is a business phrase, my dear, meaning indubitably secure; well, they have proved very unfortunate. I have acted on the best advice." "You look lovely, darling," put in the Colonel with enthusiasm ; "and I beg that I may never see you less becomingly attired. The more it costs the better, if only the effect produced can be improved in proportion." "But, my dear papa, I don't understand." "That is the worst of a poor girl not having a mother," murmured the Colonel plaintively. "I dare say that after the confession that I have just made, it surprises you that I should have hired this gilded bower, that six feet two of pompous inanity, who, thank heaven, has left us at last alone, and surrounded you with the unnecessary luxuries which you found above-stairs." "It surprises me very much, papa." The girl's tone was suddenly become grave; her face had lost its childish look and assumed an air of anxiety. It was a transformation very much for the worse, yet it was not unwelcome to the Colonel, for it convinced him that his unpleasant task of explanation was over; that she had guessed what he had to tell. At the same time his heart was touched, nay smitten, by the girl's obvious distress of mind; he felt it melting within him, and think, in spite of their gilding, but perfection in lovers is not to be found out of a fairy tale; nor is it to be forgotten that young gentlemen who are poor may be every whit as dull as the others. You will have as good a chance or nearly so, as the richest heiress of the season, only, unlike her, you cannot afford to take much time in choosing. I have not the income for more than one campaign. If I had, Hester darling, if I were only a rich man, I would say, Heaven knows, take your time and take your choice, and if you don't find the lover to suit you down to the ground, then remain with your dear father, who loves you like the apple of his eye, for ever and ever." Never had the tones of Colonel Richard Darrell, not even when he had been known as "Look and Die," been more tender and pleading; it is also probable that they were much more genuine than when used on some previous occasions. He twirled his moustaches with both hands (which showed a great agitation) and awaited his daughter's reply. you "Dear papa," said Hester, after a long silence, "I cannot conceal from you that have given me great pain. I am afraid I am not fit for the position, which (but for our poverty) you tell me that we fill in the world. I had rather-much rather that while still loving me as much as I am sure you do, you would spend no money on my account, and keep me in obscurity. Save that I saw your dear face so seldom, I was very happy and contented at Madame Langlais'. A simple life is what suits me best, while you," she hesitated, the comparison was difficult to draw-"I mean why should |