laughter, so respectable did he look in a spick-and-span new frock-coat and
his tall hat. Kate never looked prettier; Mortimer said her own husband
wouldn't know her.

She wore a dark green silk pleated down the front, from underneath which a
patent-leather boot peeped as she walked; a short jacket showed the drawing
of her shoulders, the delicacy of her waist, and the graceful fall of the
hips. She carried in her hand a bouquet of yellow and pink roses, a present
from Montgomery.

'Now, ladies and gentlemen, I won't detain you long, but do let us run
through the third act, so as to have it right for the night. Montgomery,
will you oblige me by playing over that sailor-chorus?'

Dick took the girls in sections and placed them in the positions he desired
them to hold.

'Now, then; enter the Countess. Who's in love with the Countess?'

'Well, if you don't know, I don't know who does,' said Mortimer. 'I hear
you've been swearing all the morning "till death do us part."'

A good deal of laughter greeted this pleasantry and Dick himself could not
refrain from joining in. At last he said:

'Now, Kate, dear, do leave off laughing and run through your song.'

'I-I-ca-n't--can-'t; you--you--are--t-t-too funny.'

'We shall never get through this act,' said Dick, who had just caught Miss