.

THE CONFESSION.
HE stopped just inside the door.

His first look was for Mercy; his is second look was for Julian.
"I knew it!" he said, with an assumption of sardonic composure.

"If I could only have persuaded Lady Janet to bet, I should have won a hundred pounds." He advanced to Julian, with a sudden change from irony to anger.

"Would you like to hear what the bet was ?" he asked.
"I should prefer seeing you able to control yourself in the presence of this lady," Julian answered, quietly.
"I offered to lay Lady Janet two hundred pounds to one," Horace proceeded, "that I should find you here, making love to Miss Roseberry behind my back." Mercy interfered before Julian could reply.
"If you cannot speak without insulting one of us," she said, "permit me to request that you will _not_ address yourself to Mr.Julian Gray." Horace bowed to her with a mockery of respect.
"Pray don't alarm yourself--I am pledged to be scrupulously civil to both of you," he said.