Lexville flower-show was always held in the grounds of one of the county magistrates, the Rev Henry Lingon, concerning whose kindness the reporter for the little newspaper generally went into raptures in print, and received orders for half-a-dozen extra copies the next bench-day. And now fast and furiously the carriages began to set down--the wealth and fashion of the neighbourhood making a point of being the earlier arrivals, so as to miss the crowd of commoner beings who would afterwards flock together. "Ah, Vining! You're here, then, mai dear fellow! Why didn't you come to lunch?" exclaimed Maximilian Bray, sauntering up to the young man, who, rather flushed and energetic, was talking to a knot of flower-button-holed committee-men. "How do, Max?" exclaimed Charley, hastily taking the extended hand, and giving it a good shake. Then, turning to the committee-men: "Much rather not--would, really, you know--don't feel myself adapted. Well, there," he exclaimed at last, in answer to several eager protestations, "I'll do it, if you can get no one else!--Want me to give away the prizes," he said, turning to Max Bray, who was gazing ruefully at his right glove, in whose back a slight crack was visible, caused, no doubt, by the hearty but rough grasp it had just received. "To be sure--of course!" drawled Bray. "You're the very man, bai Jove! But won't you come towards the gate? I expect our people here directly." Nothing loth, Vining strolled with his companion down one of the pleasant floral avenues, but seeing no flowers, hearing no band; for his gaze, he hardly knew why, was directed towards the approach; and though Maximilian Bray kept up a drawling series of remarks, they fell upon inattentive ears. "Do you expect them soon?" said Charley at last, somewhat impatiently, for he was growing tired of his companion's chatter. "Ya-as, directly," said Bray, smiling. "But, mai dear fellow, why didn't you come over and then escort them?" Charley did not answer; for just then he caught sight of Laura, radiant of lace and dress, sweeping along beside Mrs Bray, who seemed to cut a way through the crowd at the farther part of the great marquee. "Here they are," said Bray, drawing Charley along; "so now you can be out of your misery." "What do you mean?" said Charley sharply. "Bai Jove! how you take a fellow up! Nothing at all--nothing at all!" Charley frowned slightly, and then suffered himself to be led up to the Elms party, Mrs Bray smiling upon him sweetly, and Laura favouring him with a look that was meant to bring him to her side. But Laura's look had not the desired effect; for Charley stayed talking to Mrs Bray, after just passing the customary compliments to the younger lady. A frown--no slight one--appeared on Laura's brow; but in a few seconds it was gone, and, walking back a few paces, she stayed by her younger sisters, with whom Charley could see the young lady of the previous day's encounter.