ALICE started as she heard the name Tony Butler, and for a moment neither spoke. There was confusion and awkwardness on either side-all the greater that each saw it in the other. She, however, was the first to rally; and, with a semblance of old friendship, held out her hand, and said, "I am so glad to see you, Tony, and to see you safe."

"I'd not have dared to present myself in such a dress," stammered he out; but that scamp Skeffy gave me no choice: he opened the door and pushed me in."

"Your dress is quite good enough to visit an old friend in. Won't you sit down?-sit here." As she spoke, she seated herself on an ottoman, and pointed to a place at her side. "I am longing to hear something about your campaigns. Skeff was so provoking-he only told us about what he saw at Cava, and his own adventures on the road."

"I have very little to tell, and less time to tell it. I must embark in about half an hour."

VOL. XCVII.-NO. DXCI.

"And where for?"
"For home."

"So that if it had not been for Skeff's indiscretion, I should not have seen you?" said she, coldly.

"Not at this moment-not in this guise."

"Indeed!" And there was another pause.

"I hope Bella is better. Has she quite recovered?" asked he.

"She is quite well again; she'll be sorry to have missed you, Tony. She wanted, besides, to tell you how happy it made her to hear of all your good fortune."

"My good fortune! Oh, yes!— to be sure. It was so unlooked for," added he, with a faint smile, "that I have hardly been able to realise it yet-that is, I find myself planning half-a-dozen ways to earn my bread, when I suddenly remember that I shall not need them."

"And I hope it makes you happy, Tony?"

"Of course it does. It enables me to make my mother happy, and

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