24 o BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.

11 1 don't know how I can, but I say so because I think so."

" Then, my darling, pray think so no longer ; I am more than delighted with Philip, I am charmed and astonished."

" At what in particular ? "

" At his pleasant manners, his amiability, his devotion to you."

" Are you ? well, what did you expect then ? What else can he be ? Do we not make ourselves agreeable ? Am I not always ready to listen to all he says ; to be charmed with his sketches ; and who could be anything else than amiable upon such a journey as this, and with such a com- panion as Walter, who thinks for everybody, gives nobody any trouble about anything, even looks after the baggage if necessary, and makes our tour a sort of royal progress ?

I cannot imagine the most awful curmudgeon, as Sam would say, being anything but gay under the circum- stances."

" Oh, I do not know that Philip is gay," said Jenny^

II but he is happy, contented, ready to do anything we suggest, pleasant, agreeable, and, what is more to the pur- pose, charmed with his pretty little fiancee"

11 Then say good-night to his pretty little fiancee? said Dolly, smiling. " I am very tired, dearest."

And so they said good-night ; and in this kind of closing chat, which brought all the Milbanke nights to an end, Jenny told Walter that she could not quite make Dolly out ; she really did not quite know whether she loved Philip or not.

" Love him ! why, of course, she does," Walter replied j " he sat by her all day when he was not sketching ; and at dinner he never forgot to see that she had the best of everything ; and when we looked out and saw that wedding business going on, he was particularly attentive, and he whispered something to Dolly and she laughed. What