"Non, it is not that. The letter arrives from M. de Bertrand. It was send to him from England under cover, and he waited till he should learn your address and have opportunity to send it with safety. When I wrote to him that you all were ordered to Verdun, then he sent the letter to me by one travelling this way. It is but now arrived. I am glad!" Lucille added, under her breath. Denham bent nearer to the candle, trying with drawn brows to make out the handwriting. As he did so, a curious light crept over his face. Lucille thought she could read its meaning. "You are very good, mademoiselle. I am much indebted to you and to M. de Bertrand," he said. "Den, I do believe it's Polly's writing!" exclaimed Roy. Denham glanced towards him. "Yes; it is from Polly." (_To be continued._) [Illustration] FROCKS FOR TO-MORROW. BY "THE LADY DRESSMAKER." [Illustration: EVENING DRESSES FOR CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES.] The winter is always distinguished by a rather dowdy style of dress, especially in town, where, for at least three months of the year, the days are so dark and the light so poor at best that everyone says, "It really cannot matter what one puts on in such sombre weather as this." Such is the sentiment expressed by the general public, but, of course, does not apply to those who, having carriages at their disposal, can blossom out like the lilies of King Solomon, and be carried over the mud and through the gloom without let or hindrance. It is only on sunny days during the winter and at Church Parade in Hyde Park that one sees the brighter side of winter dress. Otherwise it only blooms in the shops, at the dressmakers', and at the endless afternoon teas which constitute the main amusement during the winter. One must have at least one nice walking-dress for the winter, in spite of the gloom, for these last-named festive occasions, and one generally needs a cape or mantle as well to wear in turn with our costume or with it as we may require. Besides this, most women have a certain amount of "wearing out" to do of clothes that must put in a second winter. Those wise people who have established a kind of rule for themselves in the purchase of dress get a handsome cape or mantle one year and a handsome gown the next, the latter becoming less visible and important the second year when worn under the new mantle. Both of these should come from first-rate shops, in order to get the full value out of them. Then there are the people who wait for the sales to supply themselves with winter clothes, and say they manage to finish out the last year's stock by this means in the still darker and shorter days before Christmas. I always consider the wearing out of one's winter things a grievous bother which falls most heavily on the shoulders of those who are very careful wearers of their garments. I know people who really are never able to wear out their clothes, and become quite dispirited at the constant sight of them.