"Oh! it's Sammy you object to, is it?" said Camilla. "My dear, dear soul, I do assure you there wasn't a creature about this morning! That is why I enjoyed the ride. We flew through the Park as if we had been a couple of birds." "You have such a heap of people that you can go about with," said Mrs. Brenton, half impatiently; "why choose the one man that is likely to do you harm?" "Oh, you know that is all rubbish, Agnes!" Mrs. Lancing said a little impatiently in her turn. "Sammy is not a hero, but he is no worse than any other man; and then we are connected, you know, and that goes a long way." "He is a second cousin of your late husband's," said Mrs. Brenton; "that is no kind of relationship. However," she added, "I suppose you know your own business best, and I have no right to interfere as long as you are happy, my dear child. Happiness is the one great thing, after all." Camilla finished the toast, and then got up. She sighed a quick, impatient sigh. "If I sit here I shall eat all there is on the table, and I have driven that girl away," she said; "she looks rather nice, Agnes. What is she going to do?" "I was just talking things over with her," said Mrs. Brenton, "though I suppose really this is a matter for Mr. Haverford to settle. But she interests me, and I feel so sorry for her. She will not go back to his mother, that is very sure. I think she will try and get a place as nursery governess or something of that sort. She seems devoted to children." "Perhaps she would do for me," said Camilla in her impulsive way. Mrs. Brenton only smiled. "We must go into matters a little bit more," she said, "before we can come to any conclusion." "Well, you are going to bring her to lunch, aren't you?" At this moment a maid came in and handed a telegram to Mrs. Brenton. It was from Rupert Haverford, announcing that he would be with her directly, as in the afternoon he was unfortunately engaged. Camilla picked up her hat and gloves in a great hurry. "Oh, let me get away!" she said. "I don't think I will bother to have a cab, it is such a short distance, and I can walk that far. Don't forget lunch, one-thirty." As she passed out, Camilla met Caroline Graniger on the stairs. "Mrs. Brenton is going to bring you to lunch with me to-day," she said. "I hear you like children, I am sure you will like mine. They are two such sweethearts." She nodded brightly, and ran down the staircase. Mrs. Brenton handed Haverford's telegram to Caroline when the girl joined her. "Perhaps it is as well that he should come over early," she said, "then we can have the rest of the day to ourselves." They chatted a little more on the subject of Caroline's future. Mrs. Brenton wanted the girl to have some definite scheme to propose to Haverford when he came. While they talked she apprised Caroline's different points, and found many things that she liked.