“You are right; they were always a fine family. I do not think that the young lady has brought any disgrace upon it, however, for her husband appears to be a very fine man. His name is Dredmond—Adrian Dredmond.” His lordship’s face turned ghastly pale at this, and he looked up at the loquacious lawyer in a dazed sort of way. “You are surely ill, my lord!” Mr. Capel said, alarmed at his appearance, and pouring out a glass of wine, he brought it to him, thinking it strange, too, that the story should affect him so. “Thank you; it is merely a sudden dizziness, it will pass soon,” he said, as he drank the wine; then, after he had regained his scattered senses somewhat, he arose, bade the lawyer good-morning, and departed. His first and only love was dead, and his heart told him that she had been true to him to the last, from the fact of her never having married. But how could he meet her in the future and answer for all the insult and abuse he had heaped upon the child of her love. He wondered if she had recognized him as she came into Capel & Armand’s office. “If she did, the little witch displayed wonderful dignity and self-possession. I don’t blame the boy for falling in love with her,” he muttered. Then he remembered how earnestly Adrian had begged him to listen while he explained, and he would not; how he had returned unopened his letter, which doubtless contained all the information and more than he had gained to-day; and he sought his elegant home in Upper Grosvenor Street, in a remarkably humble frame of mind for so proud a man. CHAPTER XXXVIII THE CYNOSURE OF ALL EYES Lord Dunforth, without acquainting his wife of the change of his feelings, called the next day, as early as the rules of etiquette would allow, at the Langham, and desired to be shown to Mr. Dredmond’s apartments. He was informed, much to his disappointment, that Mr. Dredmond and his wife had left town for a few days. Like all truly noble natures, when he found he was in the wrong he was willing to acknowledge it, and anxious to atone as far as lay in his power; but nothing remained now but to wait with patience until the return of the young couple. Adrian and his wife had decided, upon talking the matter over, to wait until the return of the Coolidges from Paris before making their trip to West Malling, meantime they would run down to Winchester to pay poor Lady Douglas a visit and take a look at Winship Towers. Upon their return to London they found numerous cards and invitations from families in high life awaiting them, requesting the pleasure of Mr. Dredmond and lady’s presence, etc., etc. One for the evening called them to Manchester House, the residence of the Marquis of Hertford. “The world is really waking up to the fact that you are actually married, Adrian,” Brownie said, mischievously, as she turned over the dainty missives, but her cheeks were glowing with indignation.