“Why so proud and particular? They won’t all be Miss Parretts!” “Oh, you women are so irregular, unpunctual, and undecided--yes, and nervous. Even Miss Susan clawed me by the arm when we took a sharp turn.” “I hope the next year will fly,” said Sir Martin; “I tried my hand on your uncle, you know--did Leila tell you? I have got him to make it eighteen months hard labour--and eighteen months it is.” “No! I say--that is splendid news! How awfully good of you!” “I fancy he’s a little bit indulgent now; he finds that you can stick it, and have brought such a magnificent character.” “Profound regrets,” supplemented Leila, “if not tears. Ah, here is dinner! I don’t suppose you’ve _dined_ since you were here in April; come along, Owen, we are quite alone, and let us drink your health.” Two days later Wynyard saw his sister and her husband off from Euston by the White Star Express, and felt that his holiday--his breathing time, was over. He must get into harness at once. His one hope, as he wandered about the streets, was that he might catch sight of Aurea. By all accounts, she was staying in Eaton Place; more than once he walked over there, and strolled up and down on the opposite side, and gazed at No. 303 as if he would see through the walls. But it was no use--telepathy sometimes fails; Aurea never appeared, and, had she done so--though he was not aware of the sad fact--she would not have vouchsafed the smallest notice of her aunts’ former employé. The daily post brought several replies to Owen’s advertisements. When he had looked through and sorted them, he found that, after all, the most tempting was from a woman--a certain Mrs. Cavendish Foote, whose address was Rockingham Mansions, S.W. The lady announced that she required a really smart, experienced chauffeur for town--she had a new Renault car; he would have to live out, and she offered him four guineas a week, and to find himself in clothes and minor repairs. She wrote from Manchester. He replied, forwarding his references, and she engaged him by telegram, saying she would be back in London the following day, when he was to enter her service, and call to interview her.