hide her real trouble.

"Mamma! here's Oscar Husson," said her youngest son, bringing in
Oscar, who turned as red as a poppy on seeing the two artists in
evening dress.

"Oh! so you have come, my little Oscar," said Estelle, stiffly. "I
hope you will now go and dress," she added, after looking at him
contemptuously from head to foot. "Your mother, I presume, has not
accustomed you to dine in such clothes as those."

"Oh!" cried the cruel Mistigris, "a future diplomatist knows the
saying that 'two coats are better than none.'"

"How do you mean, a future diplomatist?" exclaimed Madame Moreau.

Poor Oscar had tears in his eyes as he looked in turn from Joseph to
Leon.

"Merely a joke made in travelling," replied Joseph, who wanted to save
Oscar's feelings out of pity.

"The boy just wanted to be funny like the rest of us, and he blagued,
that's all," said Mistigris.

"Madame," said Rosalie, returning to the door of the salon, "his
Excellency has ordered dinner for eight, and wants it served at six
o'clock. What are we to do?"

During Estelle's conference with her head-woman the two artists and