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3 o6 BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.

at his chambers, but he had recently resolved to buy a house on the Upper Thames where he could invite a few friends during the summer season, and have a snug retreat for high days and holidays when he could conveniently leave his business in the city.

It was rather late when he returned home to dress for a little dinner engagement which he had accepted at the Par- thenon Club. Nevertheless, he flung himself upon a couch full of cushions, asked Devereux for his slippers, and re- quested his servant not to disturb him for half an hour.

" You said you would dress at seven, sir."

"Yes, I know."

" It's now half past."

" Can't help it, Devereux. Am tired j must have forty winks."

u Yes, sir. There are two telegrams for you."

" I won't open them," said Swynford, " at present."

" Right, sir."

" Come to me in twenty minutes."

" Yes, sir."

Swynford did not have forty winks. He felt depressed and miserable. He couldn't help all daylong contrasting his position with that of Philip Forsyth. He couldn't help thinking at the Rosetti Gallery how happy he could be if he had, as a companion, with future happy prospects, Dolly Norcott. He couldn't help thinking how generously he could have ministered to her tastes and foibles, what pictures they would have bought together, what a delight- ful time they would have had in buying and furnishing that house, for which he had purchased those pictures ; and in contemplating himself he saw a special and individual example of the impossibility of perfect human happiness arising from the impossibility of a perfect cultivation of the virtue of contentment.

Sam Swynford possessed most of the things that could