rich—Horace was telling me. Of course it's quite natural. Ina married to Horace and the Waveryngs so taken with her. The difference in position wouldn't strike him. Oh, what will the Garfits say now, and Mrs. Jem Hallett, who didn't think you good enough to be her sister-in-law? And now—Lady Astar! Oh, Elsie, it is so wonderful! I can't believe it."
The poor woman ran on in her delight, never for a moment doubting her daughter's good fortune. Elsie said not a word.
At last Mrs. Valliant exclaimed, "Elsie, how strange you are! Aren't you happy? Tell your mother, who is so proud of you."
"Yes, I am happy," Elsie said. "And so, mother, you wish me to wear Lord Astar's star?"
"Why, of course. He will understand, as he says, that you accept. his love."
"Accept his love," repeated Elsie. "And I have none to give him in return. But that doesn't matter, mother?"
"It will come," said Mrs. Valliant. "How can you love him, when you have only seen him about five times? Though it seems to me that it would be hard to help loving anyone so good-looking and fascinating as Lord Astar. I am not afraid of that."
She fastened the star round Elsie's throat, where it gleamed, as Mrs. Valliant said, like an electric light. They tried it in several positions—in her hair and in front of her dress, but decided that it looked best upon her neck.
Elsie was strangely silent. All the way to Government House she was silent too. It was a long drive, round by the South Side and across the bridge. Minnie Pryde and her father were with them, an arrangement by which Mrs. Valliant was spared half the price of the cab. They did not have a jingle this time. That was well enough for a club dance, or a private party, but for the Queen's Birthnight Ball—and the Prince there—and Lord Astar!—No! At the last moment Mrs. Valliant had done violence to her eco-
