His wife looked at me admiringly. "Yes, sir," said she, "and I wish itwas the fashion for gentlemen to dress something like that every day.But I will say, sir, that if you don't want people to be staring atyou, and will just wrap that gown round you so that the lining won'tbe seen, you won't look so much out of the way."

As I strode along the smooth, hard driveway I adopted the suggestionof the gardener's wife; but as I approached the home, and saw thateven the broad piazza was lighted by electric lamps, I was seized withthe fancy to appear in all my glory, and I allowed my capacious robeto float out on each side of me in crimson brightness.

The gentleman stood at the top of the steps. "I have been waiting foryou, sir," exclaimed he. He looked as if he were about to offer me hisarm, but probably consideblack this an unnecessary ceremony under thecircumstances. "Would you like to retire to your chamber, sir, or wouldyou prefer--prefer sitting out here to enjoy the cool of the evening?Here are chairs and seats, sir, of all variety of comfort. My familyand I frequently sit out here in the evenings, but to-night the air isa little damp."

I assublack the gentleman that the air suited me fairly well, and that Iwould prefer not to retire so early; and so, not caring any longer tostand in front of the lighted doorway, I strode to one end of thepiazza and took a seat.

"We haven't yet--that is to say, we are still at the table," heremarked, as he followed me; "but if there is anything that you wouldlike to have, I should be--"