It was well known that she gave charming entertainments, and people were always eager to attend. A lawn-party, too, was so romantic, "too sweet for anything," declared the young women who adored those out-of-door entertainments where the most flagrant flirtations were possible, and where the plainest faces acquired a certain beauty from the blended light of lamp-light and moonlight, and the flickering leaf-shadows cast by the over-arching trees. Older people dreaded the night-air and the dew, but to these the drawing-rooms were always open, so that no one dreamed of declining Mrs. Vernon's elegant cards. Lady Clive was present that evening, her fair and stately beauty, so like her brother's, thrown into perfect relief by a robe of blue and silver, with pale, gleaming pearls around her graceful throat and white arms. Lady Vera wore white satin and tulle, with water-lilies here and there, a beautiful dress that was most becoming to her, and made her look regal as a young princess. A flush of excitement glowed upon her cheeks, and her eyes were bright and restless with a strange look of expectancy and almost dread in their beautiful depths. The constant thought in her mind was: "I shall see my enemies to-night. What will be the result? They pretend to regard me as a perfect stranger. What shameless audacity. I cannot understand how they can carry it out so boldly. And yet God knows that but for my oath of vengeance I would never speak. Ivy might have my husband and welcome. Yet I would give much to know whose death it was I read in that American paper. Leslie Noble's father, perhaps, though I had some vague idea that he was dead long ago." Colonel Lockhart is present too, this evening, ever watchful, ever near his darling, though without the least appearance of intrusiveness. Other lovers take his place by her side, but as usual she is calm and cold to all. She is done with love and lovers, she tells herself with sad self-pity. All her future life will lie in the dun, gray twilight of sorrow. "As the blade wears the scabbard, The billow the shore; So sorrow doth fret me Forevermore!" It is late in the evening before Colonel Lockhart ventures to address her. Then something in her glance has drawn him to her side, in spite of his determination not to intrude upon her. Lady Eva Clarendon and Miss Montgomery are present, and both have laid some claims to his attention. In spite of herself, Lady Vera cannot keep the pain out of her eyes, and Philip, watching her with the keenness of love, is quick to see it. In a moment he is by her side. "Will you promenade with me?" he asks, deferentially. * * * * * A sudden smile of irrepressible pleasure lights the beautiful face. She loves him dearly, and it is so hard to give him up.