men would compliment as long as—­as women are lovely, interpolated Mr. Merlin.  Arthur also wished to know what speech was good for, if not to say the sweetest things; and so they were lost to view, still gayly chatting with the pleasant freedom of a young man and woman who know that they are not in love with each other, and are perfectly content not to be so, because—­whether they know it or not—­they are each in love with somebody else.

This movement had taken place as Abel was finishing his scattering volley of talk.

“Yes,” said he, as he saw that he was not overheard, and sinking his voice into that tone of tender music which Hope so well remembered—­“yes, making every body in the world happy but one person.”

His airy persiflage had not pleased Hope Wayne.  The sudden modulation into sentiment offended her.  Before she replied—­indeed she had no intention of replying—­the round eyes of Mrs. Van Kraut informed her partner that she was ready for another turn, and forth they whirled upon the floor.

“I jes’ sez to Mrs. Dagon, you know, ma’am, sez I, I don’t like to see a young man like Mr. Abel Newt, sez I, wasting himself upon married women.  No, sez I, ma’am, when you women have made your market, sez I, you oughter stan’ one side and give the t’others a chance, sez I.”

Mr. Van Boozenberg addressed this remark to Lawrence Newt.  In the eyes of the old gentleman it was another instance of imprudence on Abel’s part not to be already engaged to some rich girl.

Lawrence Newt replied by looking round the room as if searching for some one, and then saying: 

“I don’t see your daughter, Mrs. Witchet, here to-night, Mr. Van Boozenberg.”

“No,” growled the papa, and moved on to talk with Mrs. Dagon.

“My dear Sir,” said the Honorable Budlong Dinks, approaching just as Lawrence Newt finished his remark, and Van Boozenberg, growling, departed: 

“That was an unfortunate observation.  You are, perhaps, not aware—­”

“Oh! thank you, yes, I am fully aware,” replied Lawrence Newt.  “But one thing I do not know.”

The Honorable Budlong Dinks bowed with dignity as if he understood Mr. Newt to compliment him by insinuating that he was the man who knew all about it, and would immediately enlighten him.

“I do not know why, if a man does a mean and unfeeling, yes, an inhuman act, it is bad manners to speak of it.  Old Van Boozenberg ought to be sent to the penitentiary for his treatment of his daughter, and we all know it.”

“Yes; but really,” replied the Honorable Budlong Dinks, “really—­you know—­it would be impossible.  Mr. Van Boozenberg is a highly respectable man—­really—­we should lapse into chaos,” and the honorable gentleman rubbed his hands with perfect suavity.

“When did we emerge?” asked Lawrence Newt, with such a kindly glimmer in his eyes, that Mr. Dinks said merely, “really,” and moved on, remarking to General Arcularius Belch, with a diplomatic shrug, that Lawrence Newt was a very odd man.