title held good, as such titles do, to the end of life. This explains the major's toast, where Frank's military rank was so delicately alluded to. With this apology to our readers, we go on.

"Colonel Trueman!" exclaimed Colonel Courtney, now all alive to the quarrel. "Pray, tell me all about it."

The major told the story of the French opera girls and dancers, with certain "fast ladies," who were initiated into suppers of this sort, being invited by the gentlemen of the Carlton Club to a supper in the basement of the opera-house on the night previous, and told the facts very fairly as they occurred. When the major had repeated, word for word, the speech which Frank made, Colonel Courtney thumped his hand upon the table at which they sat, and exclaimed, "Good, by George! Let me ask you at whose prompting is this duel got up ?"

at

The major seemed a little backward at replying. But it came out that the club had held a meeting informal, to be sure which Lord Dielincœur and Colonel Proudfit were present; and, as they were sober, not having been at the supper, their judgment was conclusive.

"The club had been compromised, in their opinion, and must fight itself out. They said, as I had offered the toast, it was my bounden duty to do the fighting."

"You are the most amiable of men!" said Colonel Courtney. "And for whom do you peril your life? For the honor of a wife, a sister; or for a troupe of women, not one of whom you would introduce to your own parlor ?”

"But, then, there are Mrs. Proudfit, and certain other ladies,

GROUND OF QUARREL.

43

whose names I do not feel at liberty to mention; they were present," replied the major.

"And are they to be classed with dancing-women, and operagirls? Do you think any one of those ladies will thank you for making public their presence at such a midnight revel? Think again, major."

"My dear colonel, I've no wish to get myself pilloried nor shot for these women; but it is only on account of Mrs. Proudfit; all the rest I care nothing for. If their last night's paramours have any love of fighting, let them fight. But Mrs. Proudfit's honor, in the judgment of her husband and Lord Dielincœur, is impugned, and through my act. There's the rub, colonel."

"You are a simpleton, my dear fellow, and you are fighting the quarrels of other people. Proudfit and Dielincœur are anxious to kill off this gentleman, who is a friend of mine, and by whom I shall stand at all hazards, and to the death; and I shall send to Lord D. and Colonel Proudfit my compliments, and shall hold them responsible for all that comes of this matter. You know me, major; and what I promise I never fail to perform."

"I wish I was well out of the scrape," said the major; “and how shall I get out of it?"

"There is one way to escape, and I will help you to it. You were guilty of an offence to my friend Trueman, last night, in publicly insinuating relations subsisting between Mrs. Proudfit and himself, which, in any other place, and before any other audience, you would have regarded alike insulting to the lady as to that gentleman. He resented it for himself and Mrs. Proudfit; and he did it in the high consciousness of his honor, and

out of respect to that lady; and for this-for this, he is to be challenged! and that, too, at the instigation of the husband whose wife's purity he protected from your insulting toast. What have you to reply to this?"

"Not one word. I thank you, colonel, for opening to my dull senses such naked facts as these. Let us go at once to Colonel Trueman's, and I will make him my apology in person. Please help me through this interview."

Colonel Courtney agreed to go with the major at three o'clock. It was now one; and they separated, both greatly gratified with the result of their conference.

CHAPTER IX.

LORD AND LADY D. PROPOSE A PLAN OF RECONCILIATION.

FRANK was lying on the sofa, bolstered up with pillows; for his blistered back was anything but comfortable when sitting up. Gertrude was sewing, and Annie reading aloud the last new book, when Oliver came in, with Theodore following. Theodore delivered a billet bearing the well-known seal of Lord Dielincœur. At the sight of this note our ladies turned pale. This done, Theodore retired, and Oliver produced another, addressed to himself, handed to him in the entry by Theodore, from Lady Di. Oliver had been called out of the room by Theresa, that he might receive this note unobserved.

LORD DIELINCŒUR'S NOTE.

45

"Here we have it—' coffee and pistols for two!"" said Frank. Never was there more interest exhibited than by his auditors.

This note was addressed on the inside to the gentlemen jointly. Lord D. was extremely courteous in the language with which his note opened. He alluded to having introduced our pilgrims to the circles of Vanity Fair; and of his responsibilities to his friends, and above all to Colonel and Mrs. Proudfit. He went on to say that Lady Di. had been cruelly committed by the conduct of Mr. Outright; and of the manner in which Mrs. Proudfit had been treated by Mr. Trueman he could not trust himself to speak. Lord D. hoped these events, strange and inexplicable as they might be to others, were yet susceptible of explanation, as arising from too free use of the genial glass at the dinner-table, or from the effects of a heated room; and that in this way this most infelicitous deportment of gentlemen to high-bred ladies might be excused. He said Colonel P. and wife, and Lady Di., were ready to receive these as apologies sufficient and satisfactory. Indeed, Lady Di. and Mrs. P. had both become satisfied that this was the true ground on which this discourteous conduct was to be placed. They united cordially in offering the olivebranch of reconciliation; and, as a first necessity, this scandal must be suppressed at once. To this end, Lord D., for himself and Lady Di., as well as for Colonel and Mrs. Proudfit, invited them. to go to the Church of the Holy Martyrs with them on Sunday. next, where the fashionable circles of the city would be assembled upon an occasion of special interest, and when the Right Reverend the Bishop of Turkey would preach. They were also all invited to dine at his residence with a select party of friends, on that day. And Lord D. ended by saying:

"I cannot but hope, in this way, our pleasant relations may

be reëstablished before the world, and among ourselves.

"With high consideration,

"DIELINCŒUR."

"Now,

"Isn't that a model of impudence!" cried Frank. Oliver, let's have Lady Di.'s note. Don't be ashamed of it, nor fear to trust us with all that lady's earnest entreaties."

But, in spite of all Frank's encouragements, Oliver, with no little hesitation, read his note.

Opening it, he said: "This was delivered me in the hall, with great secrecy, by Theodore; and, thinking an oral reply of some sort might be required, I read it there. If Lady Di. was an angel of the highest order of beatitudes, she could not be more forgiving. She forgives me all my cruelty; she writes me thus: You have compromised my reputation and your own; but I forgive all. My bosom has no space for anything but my deep grief at conduct so untoward and uncalled for, and I only seek to save myself and you from the dreadful consequences of this madness.' Isn't that enough?” asked Oliver.

"Go on! read it!" cried Frank. of this lady's sensibilities. I insist

"Don't be so very tender upon it. We are all in the

same ship, and we sink or swim together. I must know all the facts in the case. It is due to Annie, to Gertrude, and to

myself."

So urged, Oliver read his note. Lady Di. went on to say further: "It was, my dear Outright, a momentary insanity, that led you to desert me under conditions and circumstances every way humiliating. My love is unchanged; but it asks for