Stumps,  "and  lias  had  Mademoiselle  crying  all  the
morning.  She's  tried  on  tliirteen  dresses  already  and
none  will  please  lier.  It  will  be  eight  o'clock  very  likely
V>ef(jre  they  dine,  and  that  reminds  ine  she  had  two  notes
this  morning  l)y  post  one  was  from  Lady  Giilyfit'ld.and
Sam  thought  lie  saw  Honiethingalxjut  dining.  :md  staying
all  night,  as  he  took  it  ui)-stairs.  so  just  you  keei)  your
ears  oijen  at  dinner,  and  find  out  the  day.  as  I  want  to
have  a  few  friends  to  cards  and  a  ijuadrille  tho  first  time
th<'  family  go  lion  i  home."

'■  Oh.  1  claresayl  <'an  iic(|u;iiii)  you  nil  iiliout  it  without
waiting  f(»r  dinner,"  observed  Air.  Aloiintfoid.  "Sain,
just  step  into  the  clothes-room,  and  feel  in  B.'s  brown
frock-coat  that  he  had  on  this  moniing,  and  bring  me
his  letters."  Sam  olx-yed.  ;md  K]>eedily  returned  \vitli
three.  Mr.  Momitford  took  them,  and  casting  nn
adhenivd  one  aside,  as  either  a  "bill  or  a  begging
letter,"  f)pened  ;i  line  gliized  note  with  blue  edges,  sesiled
with  a  transfixed  heart  on  green  wax: — "  M<»nday  at  ten.
at  the  'Apollo  Belvidere,'  '  was  all  it  contained,  and


118  HANDLEY  CROSS

wiukin^''  at  Sit  in,  who  winked  at  John  Trot,  wJio  passed
the  wmk  to  Mrs.  Stumps,  Mr.  Moxiutford  refolded  tlie
note,  and  opened  the  one  from  Sir  Giheon  Gillylield,
which  contained  a  pressing  invitation  for  the  Friday
following,  to  make  one  at  a  battix  on  the  Saturday.
