'I have staked everything,' said his Grace.

'Talking of stakes,' said Lord St. Jerome, who p.r.i.c.ked up his ears at a congenial subject, 'do you know what they are going to do about that affair of Anderson's?'

'What does he say for himself?' asked Sir Chetwode.

'He says that he had no intention of embezzling the money, but that, as he took it for granted the point could never be decided, he thought it was against the usury laws to allow money to lie idle.'

'That fellow has always got an answer,' said Sir Tichborne. 'I hate men who have always got an answer. There is no talking common sense with them.'

The Duke made his escape to-day, and, emboldened by his ill.u.s.trious example, Charles Faulcon, Lord St. Jerome, and some other heroes followed, to the great disgust of Sir Chetwode and Sir Tichborne.

As the evening glided on conversation naturally fell upon the amus.e.m.e.nts of society.

'I am sure we are tired of dancing every night,' said Miss Dacre. 'I wonder if we could introduce any novelty. What think you, Bertha? You can always suggest.'

'You remember the _tableaux vivants_?' said Mrs. Dallington Vere.

'Beautiful! but too elaborate a business, I fear, for us. We want something more impromptu. The _tableaux_ are nothing without brilliant and accurate costume, and to obtain that we must work at least for a week, and then, after all, in all probability, a failure. _Ils sont trop recherches_,' she said, lowering her voice to Mrs. Dallington, '_pour nous ici_. They must spring out of a society used to such exhibitions.'

'I have a costume dress here,' said the Duke of

St. James.

'And I have a uniform,' said Lord Mildmay.

'And then,' said Mrs. Dallington, 'there are cashmeres, and scarfs, and jewels to be collected. I see, however, you think it impossible.'

'I fear so. However, we will think of it. In the meantime, what shall we do now? Suppose we act a fairy tale?'

'None of the girls can act,' said Mrs. Dallington, with a look of kind pity.

'Let us teach them. That itself will be an amus.e.m.e.nt. Suppose we act Cinderella? There is the music of Cendrillon, and you can compose, when necessary, as you go on. Clara Howard!' said May Dacre, 'come here, love! We want you to be Cinderella in a little play.'

'I act! oh! dear May! How can you laugh at me so! I cannot act.'

'You will not have to speak. Only just move about as I direct you while Bertha plays music.'

'Oh! dear May, I cannot, indeed! I never did act. Ask Eugenia!'

'Eugenia! If you are afraid, I am sure she will faint. I asked you because I thought you were just the person for it.'

'But only think,' said poor Clara, with an imploring voice, 'to act, May! Why, acting is the most difficult thing in the world. Acting is quite a dreadful thing. I know many ladies who will not act.'

'But it is not acting, Clara. Well! I will be Cinderella, and you shall be one of the sisters.'

'No, dear May!'

'Well, then, the Fairy?' 'No, dear, dear, dear May!'

'Well, Duke of St. James, what am I to do with this rebellious troop?'

'Let me be Cinderella!'

'It is astonishing,' said Miss Dacre, 'the difficulty which you encounter in England, if you try to make people the least amusing or vary the regular dull routine, which announces dancing as the beautiful of diversions and cards as the sublime.'

'We are barbarians,' said the Duke. 'We were not,' said May Dacre. 'What are _tableaux_, or acted charades, or romances, to masques, which were the splendid and various amus.e.m.e.nt of our ancestors. Last Christmas we performed "Comus" here with great effect; but then we had Arundel, and he is an admirable actor.'

'Curse Arundel!' thought the Duke. 'I had forgotten him.'

'I do not wonder,' said Mrs. Dallington Vere, 'at people objecting to act regular plays, for, independently of the objections, not that I think anything of them myself, which are urged against "private theatricals," the fact is, to get up a play is a tremendous business, and one or two is your bound. But masques, where there is so little to learn by rote, a great consideration, where music and song are so exquisitely introduced, where there is such an admirable opportunity for brilliant costume, and where the scene may be beautiful without change--such an important point--I cannot help wondering that this national diversion is not revived.'

'Suppose we were to act a romance without the costume?' said the Duke.

'Let us consider it a rehearsal. And perhaps the Misses Howard will have no objection to sing?'

'It is difficult to find a suitable romance,' said Miss Dacre. 'All our modern English ones are too full of fine poetry. We tried once an old ballad, but it was too long. Last Christmas we got up a good many, and Arundel, Isabella, and myself used to scribble some nonsense for the occasion. But I am afraid they are all either burnt or taken away. I will look in the music-case.'

She went to the music-case with the Duke and Mrs. Dallington.

'No,' she continued; 'not one, not a single one. But what are these?'

She looked at some lines written in pencil in a music-book. 'Oh! here is something; too slight, but it will do. You see,' she continued, reading it to the Duke, 'by the introduction of the same line in every verse, describing the same action, a back-scene is, as it were, created, and the story, if you can call it such, proceeds in front. Really, I think, we might make something of this.'

Mr. Dacre and some others were at whist. The two Baronets were together, talking over the morning's sport. Ecarte covered a flirtation between Lord Mildmay and Lady St. Jerome. Miss Dacre a.s.sembled her whole troop; and, like a manager with a new play, read in the midst of them the ballad, and gave them directions for their conduct. A j.a.pan screen was unfolded at the end of the room. Two couches indicated the limits of the stage. Then taking her guitar, she sang with a sweet voice and arch simplicity these simpler lines:--

I.

Childe Dacre stands in his father's hall, While all the rest are dancing; Childe Dacre gazes on the wall, While brightest eyes are glancing.

Then prythee tell me, gentles gay!

What makes our Childe so dull to-day?

Each verse was repeated.

In the background they danced a cotillon.

In the front, the Duke of St. James, as Childe Dacre, leant against the wall, with arms folded and eyes fixed; in short, in an att.i.tude which commanded great applause.

II.

I cannot tell, unless it be, While all the rest are dancing, The Lady Alice, on the sea, With brightest eyes is glancing, Or muses on the twilight hour Will bring Childe Dacre to her bower.

Mrs. Dallington Vere advances as the Lady Alice. Her walk is abrupt, her look anxious and distracted; she seems to be listening for some signal.

She falls into a musing att.i.tude, motionless and graceful as a statue.

Clara Howard alike marvels at her genius and her courage.

III.

Childe Dacre hears the curfew chime, While all the rest are dancing; Unless I find a fitting rhyme, Oh! here ends my romancing!

But see! her lover's at her feet!

Oh! words of joy! oh! meeting sweet!