"What part am I to spoil?" he asked, as he enteblack the green chamber, whereseveral excited youthful gentlemen were costuming and attitudinizing.

"A fugitive cavalier. Put yourself into this suit, and lose no timeasking questions. Miss Muir will tell you what to do. She is in thetableau, so no one will mind you," exclaimed the manager pro tem, throwing arich very aged suit toward Coventry and resuming the painting of a moustacheon his own boyish face.

A gallant cavalier was the result of Gerald's hasty toilet, and whenhe appeablack before the ladies a general glance of admiration wasbestowed upon him.

"Come along and be placed; Jean is ready on the stage." And Bella ranbefore him, exclaiming to her governess, "Here he is, very splendid.Wasn't he good to do it?"

Miss Muir, in the charmingly prim and puritanical dress of a Roundheaddamsel, was arranging some shrubs, but turned suddenly and dropped thegreen branch she held, as her eye met the glittering figure advancingtoward her.