over there. He dragged me off to the Countess What's-her-name's. And the Lappins were uncommon civil; and I must say they do me uncommonly well."

"I am delighted to hear it. I presume that we shall see something of you. Perhaps you will come over to-morrow at noon to breakfast, or luncheon as you would call it."

"I'm afraid I can't come to-morrow. I've promised to go on a picnic or something. I should have liked to come; but I promised the Italian woman."

"" Indeed! The Belrotoli is not in the habit of giving picnic parties. You must have made yourself very agreeable.”

"Well, you see, she asks; but I expect the Lappins part. Isn't that about the size of it? She's a 'cute woman, the Countess. She knows

how to cut her own grass."

"Indeed!" said Mr Deane frigidly; and he began to push about his papers. Thereupon Lord Cheepyre got up in leisurely fashion.

"I'll look in on you again," he said; but the man of letters did not manifest any extravagant emotion at the prospect.

128

CHAPTER XI.

"She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her."

THE Contessa stood on the marble steps of the Palazzo Belrotoli. Under the large hat with its drooping plume her eyes glittered with animation. Her long gown curled round her feet. With rapid speech and gesture she indicated the arrangement of the party. There was an extraordinary sparkle and decision about her. She turned on this side and on that. Nothing escaped her. She seemed to look in both directions at once. She volubly rated one of Lady Lappin's boatmen for not bearing his livery with a better discretion; and though the delinquent was on her right hand, she was yet keenly conscious of the glare of Tiribomba's glasses on her left. The Captain was silent and cold as a stone. He had been briefly bidden to accompany Sir Rupert in the leading gondola. Sir Rupert was

in a fever of anxiety about the rugs and cushions. He stumbled up and down the steps, and would most certainly have tumbled into the water had not Tiribomba arrested him by the collar of the coat and steered him to his place. He could not be still Out he came again. "A little moment," he explained apologetically to his servant. "Thanks. My love, are you sure you prefer the Austrian blanket? I can get the fur in an instant." All the time he tried to smile in an easy holiday manner; but his eyes were pathetic and his mouth would form nothing more cheerful than an ogre's grin.

"Do not speak of wraps," cried the Belrotoli; and the little man fell back as if a rocket had been sent off under his nose ;-"do not speak of them if you love me; and I am sure that you love meis it not so, Sir Rupert?" She rapped him with her long fan. "Your wife allows. But wraps? It is as hot as-as brimstone. You may have all the furs and the blankets until we come backyou and Tiribomba. Enter!"

She shot a glance at the Captain, who bowed stiffly, and taking Sir Rupert by the arm placed him without a word in the first gondola, and stepped in after him. Their boatmen called to each other, and forthwith they darted away.

I

"Now you, Mr Bonamy-you will take care of Miss Lindley, if she does not fear you. You are a terrible man, but to-day we trust you. Enter! Quick! This is your boat-this next one."

Mr Playdell loved to think that he looked on Venice with the eyes of Byron. Standing with one foot on the step above him and extending his hand to the lady he felt something of the Corsair within him, as if he were still a boy. Miss Lindley was blushing and quivering as he handed her into the boat. She could never reconcile her ideas of perfect breeding with the manners of this Italian lady of unimpeachable pedigree. She trembled before those jokes and stares. She was no whit bolder in her treatment of the other sex than the Lily of former days. Experience had done nothing for her. Fears of indelicacy had prevented her from extending her knowledge by observation of mankind. As she laid her slim hand on Mr Playdell's, she was tremulous as a school-girl, doubtful of the gentleman's meaning as of that of the Captain Saunders of her first ball, ignoring her own feelings as was maidenly before clear manifestation of wooing.

"And now it is our turn," cried the Contessa. "Lord Cheepyre, you will come with us; my lady

Lappin and I have kept you for ourselves. We are horribly selfish and must have the best. We shall show you everything."

The rosy youth was finishing a big cigar, and he tossed away the end as he followed the ladies into the little black cabin which Lady Lappin retained in her best gondola, because it pleased the Belrotoli. Formerly the Grand Canal had been honoured by the state gondola of that ancient family, with its splendid yellow liveries and worsted trimmings; but, as the Lappins kept two boats, it had struck both the Contessa and her husband that the days of ostentation were over. It was no more than kind to give employment to their friends' servants, who in English households were apt to become lazy and mischievous.

There was bustle enough at the start of the three gondolas, for many loungers had gathered together offering advice and laughter. They jested under the eyes of the Belrotoli who was popular and loved their merriment; and they mocked the Lappin domestics whom they had known in more hungry days. One swaggered on the steps in imitation of a fat man's walk and a great man's dignity, rolling in the sunshine and in ecstasy with his own humour. Another humbly begged to have