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 The appearance of a young man in morning-clothes at half past ten at night in the midst of a party would have been repellent to Mr, Johns's butler, who liked entertainments and liked them well done. He, however, was busy in the dining-room, and the footman, who let Austin in, not only remembered him from his former visit, but, like Portia, remembered him worthy of praise.

"I wonder," said Austin, who had the American distaste to giving a direct order, particularly to other people's servants, "I wonder if I could see Mr. Johns for a few minutes?"

Even the footman knew better than to bring him, attired as he was, directly into the ball-room. "I'll inquire, sir," he said, and ushered him into a little waiting-room near the stairs, shutting the door behind him.

The footman had little idea how much was accomplished by this simple action, for this little room, unknown to most of the guests, was at that time occupied by Elise and George. They were sitting on either side of a nice open fire, engaged in a conversation which came to an abrupt halt—as perhaps any conversation would—on the entrance of Austin.