“Yes, if you like. I suppose it is very appropriate for a telegraph boy and a flower girl to walk together,” said Grace, laughing. “What a very natural telegraph boy you make! Where did you get the uniform? Did you borrow it of a real telegraph boy?” “No,” answered Paul, “I had it made expressly for me.” “I suppose that is better. I hired my suit of a costumer.” As Paul and Grace were promenading, they met Mark escorting a pale, sallow girl with a long nose, but very expensively dressed as a maid of honor. Mark turned up his nose, but looked rather envious, nevertheless, for Grace De Vere was not only pretty, but of high family. He said something to his companion, and both stared impertinently at Paul. “Do you know Mark Sterling?” asked Grace. “Only a little.” “I don’t like him at all. He is awfully disagreeable. He looks as if he didn’t like you.” “I don’t think he does. Can you tell me the name of the young lady with him?” “It is Irene Braddon. Do you admire her?” “I prefer my present partner,” said Paul. “Thank you; you are very gallant. Still, it isn’t much of a compliment. Irene belongs to a rich family, but she is disagreeable, and few like her.” “Is Mark an admirer of hers?” “He likes to be seen with her because she is of a rich and prominent family. But he likes his cousin, Jennie Cunningham, best. He is jealous of every boy who pays her any attention. But I want to ask you a question. Why have I never met you before at any parties? I am sure I should have remembered you.” “This is the first party I ever attended.” “Indeed! How can that be?” “Because I am really what I represent, a telegraph boy.” Paul watched the face of his young companion closely, fearing that this revelation would cut him off from her favor. “You don’t mean to say that you are the telegraph boy that frightened away the burglar?” inquired Grace, eagerly. “I believe I am.” “Why, you are quite a hero!” exclaimed Grace, enthusiastically. “O, no,” answered Paul, modestly. “It didn’t take much courage.” Grace asked Paul a great many questions, and did not seem at all shocked to learn that she was escorted by a common telegraph boy. “Come, Grace,” said Jennie, after a while, “we can’t have you two monopolize each other. My cousin, Mark, solicits the honor of escorting you. Paul, if you are a very good boy, you may walk with me.” “Did you know, Miss Grace,” said Mark, “that you were walking with a real telegraph boy?” “Yes, he told me so.” “I am surprised that my Cousin Jennie should have invited him here.” “I am not at all. I think him the handsomest boy at the party.” “There is no accounting for taste,” rejoined Mark, very much disgusted at this laudation of a boy he despised. “He is so agreeable, too,” added Grace, with malicious pleasure at her companion’s discomfiture. “He has plenty of cheek!” said Mark. “He tries to make himself very conspicuous. It would be better taste to stand quietly in a corner.”