[Illustration: "'PEARS TO ME, MARSE JACK, YOU DONE GONE BEEN QUIET LONG 'NUFF DIS SPELL," EXCLAIMED MONDAY, JACK HARKAWAY'S COLORED SERVANT, AS HE ENTERED HIS MASTER'S ROOM.] She had been making the tour of Europe with her mother and father, and was resting awhile, before returning to America. Jack had been considerably struck with her grace and beauty, paying her much attention, since his first introduction to her at a ball. He had every reason to believe that she also thought very well of him. Taking up his hat, he quitted the hotel, and hiring a cab, was driven to Miss Van Hoosen's residence in Belgravia. She received him cordially. "I sent for you, Mr. Harkaway, for a particular reason," she exclaimed. "Indeed!" replied Jack. "Whatever the reason may be, I feel very much indebted to you for this mark of attention on your part." "In the first place, we are going home next week." "So soon?" "Yes, papa has business to attend to and we have already been absent nearly twelve months." "I regret that I shall lose your agreeable society." "The gap in the circle of your acquaintance, which our going away will create," said Miss Van Hoosen, "I have no doubt you will soon supply." "Not so easily as you imagine," he answered. "But that is not all I wanted to see you about," continued Miss Van Hoosen as her face assumed a graver expression. "You are well acquainted with Lord Maltravers." "Yes, his lordship is a member of the same club as myself--the Travelers'. I have no reason to believe that he likes me; in fact, a coldness has always existed between us." The young lady drew her chair closer to Jack. "Now," she said, "what I am going to tell you, must be received in strict confidence." "Certainly, if you wish it." "Yesterday, Lord Maltravers called upon me and did me the honor to ask for my hand." Jack's heart fluttered a little, for this was more than he had ever dared to do. "What answer did you give him?" he inquired. "The same that I have given to others before him." "And that is--?" "Simply, that I have promised my parents that I will neither engage myself to, or marry any one, until I am twenty-one. Thereupon, he most unjustifiably made use of your name." "My name!" "He said that he knew you were his rival, and that I had refused him on your account; he added that he would soon remove you from his path and then he would urge his suit again." Jack Harkaway was astonished at this revelation. "He may have remarked that I admired you, Miss Van Hoosen," he exclaimed. "But he was quite unwarranted in saying what he did. If he attempts to pick a quarrel with me, let him beware." "That is precisely what I want you to avoid," she replied. "No matter; the days of dueling are not yet over. In France a man can seek satisfaction for his wounded honor." "Let me beg and pray of you, to keep away from Lord Maltravers." "I can make no promise."