Chinese lanterns. The crimson rambler in his button-hole, and his
red silk socks, which matched it, lent an artistic touch of colour
to the conventional black and white of his evening clothes.

Jane looked up from the comfortable depths of her wicker chair; then
smiled at his anxious face.

"I am ready," she said, and rising, walked beside him. "Has it gone
well?" she asked. "Is it a good audience?"

"Packed," replied Garth, "and the duchess has enjoyed herself. It
has been funnier than usual. But now comes the event of the evening.
I say, where is your score?"

"Thanks," said Jane. "I shall play it from memory. It obviates the
bother of turning over."

They passed into the concert-room and stood behind screens and a
curtain, close to the half-dozen steps leading, from the side, up on
to the platform.

"Oh, hark to the duchess!" whispered Garth. "My NIECE, JANE
CHAMPION, HAS KINDLY CONSENTED TO STEP INTO THE BREACH--' Which
means that you will have to step up on to that platform in another
half-minute. Really it would be kinder to you if she said less about
Velma. But never mind; they are prepared to like anything. There!
APPENDICITIS! I told you so. Poor Madame Velma! Let us hope it won't
get into the local papers. Oh, goodness! She is going to enlarge on
new-fangled diseases. Well, it gives us a moment's breathing space.
. . . I say, Miss Champion, I was chaffing this afternoon about