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228 nice to have the run of the house at Prince's Gate—and after going through with a winter in the country, and in Virginia, too, they thought they had earned it.

"Heretofore," continued Mr. Romaine, stroking his white mustache with his delicate hand, "while I have been fond of entertaining, it has always been of a sedate kind—chiefly dinners. But last year I was beguiled into promising my young friend, Lady Gwendolen Beauclerc, a ball, if I could get a house with a ball-room—and a few days ago I received a very pretty reminder of my promise, in the shape of a photograph and a letter."

"Better and better," thought Ethel—"to be invited to a ball given to please Lady Gwendolen Beauclerc!" But Gladys spoke up with her usual simplicity and straightforwardness.

"I hardly think, being now married to a medical man with his way to make in the world, that I shall be asked to many swell balls—and perhaps it is better that I should not go."

"But, Gladys, we went once to swell balls," said Ethel, reproachfully.

"Oh, yes," answered Gladys, "but that was over and done with when I married my