lence appeared to be over. The birds commenced twittering; and

livery, hurried down from the terrace, carrying folding tea-tables, with which they supplemented those of rustic oak standing perma

d them twice, then sidled up and down his perch

butler's voice, as a cloth, flung on

bly, flicking the bird with the table-cloth, a

he macaw, dodging the table-cloth and

may get it?" said th

y," remarked Tommy, i

he wished him; cuffed him soundly, and returned to the house, followed by peals of laughter, mingled with exhortatio

ffins, crumpets, cakes, and every kind of sandwich supplemented the dainty little rolled slices of white and brown bread-and-butter, while heaped-up bowls of freshly gathered strawberries lent a touch of colour to the artistic effec

e, carefully guarding their complexions beneath shady hats and picturesque parasols;-delightful girls, who had long ago sacrificed complexions to comfort, and now walked across the lawn bareheaded, swinging their

into the low wicker chairs, or on to the soft turf, and helping themselves to what they pleased.

wish to goodness they would hang this tree with Chinese lanterns and,

s opening on to the terrace shall stand wide. So no one need be in the concert-room, who prefers to stop outside. There

remained on the terrace will miss all the point of it afterwards when the dear duchess sh

-night?" asked Lady Ingleby, w

have tempted her. She will sing only one song at the concert; but she is sure to break forth later on, and give us plenty. We will persuade Jane to drift to the piano accidental

cket'?" asked a girl, to whom the Overd

inment, particularly afterwards when the duchess takes us through every item, with original notes, comments, and impersonations. Oh, Dal! Do you remember when she tucked a sheet of white writing-paper into her tea-gown for a dog collar, and took off the high-church curate nervously singing a comic song? Then at the very end, you see-and really some of it is quite good for amateurs-she trots out Velma, or some equally perfect a

any Madame Velma so perfectly, so this time she is commanded to stay. But I doubt if the 'surprise packet' will come off with quite such a shock as usual, and I am certain the fun won't be so

can girl, bravely, holding a gold spoon poised for a moment over

mean to laugh, at people who had been

ar," said Myra Ingleby,

good few," replied the American gi

d the latest Anglo-American

rable Jane?" inquir

said Ronald Ingram.

d by Billy Cathcart, talking eagerly. They put their clubs away in

body well under control. Her appearance was extraordinarily unlike that of all the pretty and graceful women grouped beneath the cedar tree. And yet it was in no sense masculine-or, to use a more appropriate word, mannish; for everything strong is masculine; but a woman who

e half-dozen places immediately vacated by the men, with the comp

in, Miss Champion?" i

plied Jane; quoting Punch

st out: "She

r people are even ignorant as to who 'bogie' is, or why we should be so proud of beating him. Where is my aunt? Poo

you open it?

ere is always the possibility of a telegram containing startling news. She says it

lmain, who was sitting where he could s

even know of its arrival. It would be a shame to take any of the bloom off the unexp

the lovely place where they were spending such delightful days; and whose odd whimsicalities had been so freely discussed while they dran

verflowing with exquisite roses. Every bloom was perf