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BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 203

your sister. I was trying to congratulate her, you know ; and I think I was too frivolous, as your good husband, Walter, would say."

" I am sure you did not mean to offend her," said Jenny, " and therefore she must not be offended."

" Will you say to her if there is anyone in the world it would break my heart to offend it is Miss Norcott ; except, perhaps, her charming sister, Mrs. Milbanke."

" I am sure of it," said Jenny.

" Besides, my dear Mrs. Milbanke, I will confess to you, strictly between ourselves ; but perhaps I had better not."

" Oh yes, do by all means, you may confide in me ; let us retreat to Lady Forsyth's Rosamond's bower, as she calls it, where you may give me a cup of tea and your per- fect confidence, will you ? "

Yes, he would and did, and Jenny was very much in- terested.

" The truth is, my dear Mrs. Milbanke, if something had happened last week that happened yesterday I should have been daring enough, impertinent enough I ought to say, to have proposed myself to Dolly I can't help call- ing her Dolly when I think of it."

" Yes ? " said Jenny encouragingly.

" But I could not, alas ! offer her a week ago what I could to-day ! "

'Yes? " said the sweet little insinuating voice of Mrs. Milbanke.

" Last week I was only worth a couple a thousand a year from my business my vulgar business I fear you will say but business is business, and England has made her name and fame by it, and her greatness after all is business."

" Yes ? " repeated the still small voice of Mrs. Milbanke.

" And to-day I have in addition to that two thousand a year a good solid thirty thousand pounds."