The Last Day of the Season. 195 



That's my programme ; and now, Major Moustache, give 

 me your arm, and take me to the M.F.H. We shall find 

 him in the supper room, most likely." 



Needless to say. Lord Daisyfield, who, prim and stiff 

 though he was, could never bring himself to say "No" to 

 a lady, much less to such a pretty one as Lady Tommy, 

 acquiesced at once to the proposal. As he gallantly 

 put it, his hounds and himself were equally at her lady- 

 ship's service. 



This was eminently satisfactory, and all that now remained 

 to be done, as Lady Tommy very justly observed, was 

 for Major Moustache to pay up his bet, and for the bride 

 and bridegroom in embryo to name the day. 



This was easily settled. Both the contracting parties, 

 being exceedingly well off as regards worldly goods, there 

 was no earthly reason why there should be any unneces- 

 sary delay in their nuptials. Accordingly, the first 

 Wednesday in April was fixed upon for the wedding, and 

 Lord Daisyfield being duly informed thereof, arranged for 

 his hounds to meet that day at Houghton Manor, the 

 residence of the bride's father, Mr. Bluebell, to wind up 

 the season. 



And now, all the preliminaries being arranged, there was 



tremendous excitement in the neighbourhood amongst 



the numerous friends of the betrothed. Such discussions 



and heart-burnings as to wedding presents as never were. 



There was Laura Lorrimer crying her pretty eyes out 



because Florry Granville had fixed upon the very same 



present. She had already written for it, in fact, to 



Thornhills, in Bond Street. '' Horrid g-g-girl," sobbed poor 



Laura ; '' I'll never speak to her again." Violet Daubeny 



gave out that she had bought a present for the bride 



o — 2 



