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 after that, life had no further distinction to hope for.

"You can do as you like," said Willis stiffly; the Sampsons were sinking hourly in his estimation; "but I know they cannot come on the 16th. They are going to a morning concert at the Duchess of St. Maur's."

"At St. Maur House? a subscription concert of course; I am sorry now I fixed my fête for the 16th. I should have been happy to have taken tickets, and I shall feel quite distressed if my réunion should interfere with the Duchess's charitable intentions. It was very thoughtless of me to take her day. I am sure it is very kind of her to lend St. Maur House; I can't think how it is that she and I have never visited, but we have not. I should have liked this opportunity of taking your sisters, Willis, if I had been going."

Willis was becoming frightfully clear-sighted to, what Mrs. Hopkinson called, the Sampson pretences, and received as much