After All.

"There ' s one thing , " Louisa suddenly exclaimed , " you can't do the drooping despair business , or the clinging limpness . " "No , and I don't want . I can be aesthetic without that ; and besides , that would not be the way to win Humberton . I shall show him as much as I can that I love him intensely with all my soul , " returned the laughing Phillis , laying with her long curls .

p "I say , Phillis , " said Louisa , energetically , after a moment ' s pause , "he ' s a poet . Why shouldn't he write a comic opera for us all ? I'm sure his music ' s as good as Sullivan ' s . Do you think you could persuade him ?" " Capital 1 I will try ; but I ' m rather doubtful whether he will , though he ' s clever enough . " "Yesand it would be so jolly . "

, " Just fancy Humberton yearning with quivering passion , or writhing in thrilling rapture after some wild Empyrean fashion , or some weird , antiquated , and Delia Cruscan idea . Isn't it too ridiculous ? " laughed Phillis , taking up a Japanese fan . " I should just like to see him dressed in a kind of flowery drab velvet , with a long rapier and a turban , and then I could almost fall in love with the

grotesque rogue myself . Poor fellow ! He little knows how we ' re discussing his points , " continued Louisa , merrily . " What a cultured sentiment we ' re getting up for this artistic young man in these idle dreams of ours . Heyday , I must try and charm him into the toils to-night . " " I really believe y on love him , after all , Phillis , " said the other , iilayfully .

"Don't be so foolish , Louisa , " protested the blushing Phillis . "Well , then , if you don't , " argued Louisa , " will y ou—now don't go and make any insinuation—will you give him up to me for to-night , and be con-. tent with the admiration y ou lavishlyreceive from those other infatuated gentlemen ; eh , clear ? " she urged . " No , I won't . I must try and captivate him to-night , and I will leave all my other admirers to you . "

" Oh , you are a greedy little thing ! " laughed Louisa ; " but I suppose y ou must have your own way , " she said , half-resignedly . " I ' ve already persuaded him to like blue and white china , although he ' s none of your lean and lank , or horridly haggard y oung men , " said Phillis , triumphantly . " But since his last disappointment there ' s just a refined morbid taint about his manner which you miht lead to something that would resemble a

g ' quite too consummately ' inspired state of mind ? " queried Louisa . " Yes , but I expect I shall onl y succeed in making a sort of marionette of him in the end , " answered Phillis . " But it is nearly time we were ready to go , love , and I shall be a saucy Philistine just to set you off , you know . " In another hour these strange creatures had arrived at the rooms of the

Crochetty Society , where they were the observed of all observers . Miss Louisa Delcote , though a little older than her friend , had dressed herself very coquettishly , and her dimpled smiles soon gained her a little knot of admirers . But by far the greater number of the male sex had been attracted to the more singular Miss Phillis Belsize , who played on the violin so sweetly and pathetically , while the other ladies of the company seemed to be cpiite forsaken . But

the advent of Humberton soon changed affairs , and though be looked pale and careworn , he conducted his excellent band of amateurs with a vivacious spirit ; but his maimer seemed somewhat forced . Briskly as they rattled through glees , madrigals , catches , rounds , and choruses , they did not seem to catch a real hearty sympathetic swing , and the solos , duets , trios , and quartets , had not the usual attention given to them . Miss Phillis Belsize was at last requested to sing a solo , and after some