I have told
too many lies for that, and more than all, must go on lying to the end.
I have sold my soul for a life of luxury, which after all is very
pleasant,' he continued, as he drew near the house, which was
brilliantly lighted up, while through the long windows of the
drawing-room he could see the table, with its silver and glass and
flowers, and the cheerful blaze upon the hearth of the fire-place, which
Dolly had persuaded Arthur to have built. There was every kind of
bric-a-brac on the tall mantel, and Frank saw it as he passed, and saw
the colored man moving slowly about the room after the manner of a
well-trained servant who understands his business. There was company
staying in the house, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond, from Kentucky, father and
mother to Fred; and Mr. and Mrs. St. Claire, and Grace Atherton, and
Squire Harrington had been invited to dinner, and were already in the
dining-room when Frank entered it after a hasty toilet.
He had been out in the country and ridden further than he had intended,
he said by way of apology, as he greeted his guests, and then took Mrs.
Raymond into dinner, which, with the exception of the soup and fish, was
served from side tables. This was Dolly's last new kink, as Frank called
it, and Dolly was very fine, in claret velvet, with her new diamonds,
which were greatly admired, Grace Atherton declaring that she liked them
quite as well as the stolen ones, whose setting was rather _passe.
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