"I'm so nervous about this thing, and so anxious, that I exaggerate everything that seems to tell against me. How did I ever come to love her so? And yet, would I kill that love if I could? Should I not kill myself first? I'll go and see Miss Maubray--I may hear something from her. Lady May _was_ embarrassed: what then? Were I a simple observer of such a scene in the case of another, I should say there was nothing in it more than this--that she had quite forgotten all about her promise. She never mentioned my name, and when the moment came, and I had come to ask for an account, she did not know what to say. It was well done, to see old Mrs. Tansey as I did. Lady May is so good-natured, and would feel her little neglect so much, and she will be sure to make it up. Fifty things may have prevented her. Yes, I'll go and hear what Miss Maubray has to say, and I'll lunch with Lady May to-morrow. I suspect that her visit to-day was to Mortlake." With these reflections, Mr. Longcluse's pace became brisker, and his countenance brightened. CHAPTER LVI. A HOPE EXPIRES. Mr. Longcluse knocked at Mr. David Arden's door. Yes, Miss Maubray was at home. He mounted the stairs, and was duly announced at the drawing-room door, and saw the brilliant young lady, who received him very graciously. She was alone. Mr. Longcluse began by saying that the weather was cooler, and the sun much less intolerable. "I wish we could say as much for the people, though, indeed, they are cool enough. There are some people called Tramways: he's a baronet--a very new one. Do you know anything of them? Are they people one can know?" "I only know that Lady Tramway chaperoned a very charming young lady, whom everybody is very glad to know, to Lady May's garden-party the other day, at Richmond." "Yes, very true; I'm that young lady, and that is the very reason I want to know. My uncle placed me in their hands." "Oh, he knows everybody." "Yes, and every one, which is quite another thing; and the woman has never given me an hour's quiet since. She presents me with bouquets, and fruit, and every imaginable thing I don't want, herself included, at least once a day; and I assure you I live in hourly terror of her getting into the drawing-room. You don't know anything about them?" "I only know that her husband made a great deal of money by a contract." "That sounds very badly, and she is such a vulgar woman?" "I know no more of them; but Lady May had her to Raleigh Hall, and surely she can satisfy your scruples." "No, it was my guardian who asked for their card, so that goes for nothing. It is really too bad." "My heart bleeds for you." "By-the-bye, talking of Lady May, I had a visit from her not a quarter-of-an-hour ago. What a fuss our friends at Mortlake do make about the death of that disagreeable old man!--Alice, I mean. Richard Arden bears it wonderfully. When did you see either?" she asked, innocently.