“I never saw any one ask such sudden questions!” he exclaimed. “You can answer me at your leisure,” she rejoined, turning away. “It was because I adored you.” “You would n’t say that at your leisure,” said the girl. Mrs. Vivian stood watching them. “You, who are so happy together, you ought to think kindly of others who are less fortunate.” “That is very true, Mrs. Vivian; and I have never thought of any one so kindly as I have of Gordon for the last year.” Angela turned round again. “Is Blanche so very bad, then?” “You will see for yourself!” “Ah, no,” said Mrs. Vivian, “she is not bad; she is only very light. I am so glad she is to be near us again. I think a great deal can be done by association. We must help her, Angela. I think we helped her before.” “It is also very true that she is light, Mrs. Vivian,” Bernard observed, “and if you could make her a little heavier, I should be tremendously grateful.” Bernard’s prospective mother-in-law looked at him a little. “I don’t know whether you are laughing at me--I always think you are. But I shall not give up Blanche for that. I never give up any one that I have once tried to help. Blanche will come back to me.” Mrs. Vivian had hardly spoken when the sharp little vibration of her door-bell was heard in the hall. Bernard stood for a moment looking at the door of the drawing-room. “It is poor Gordon come to make a scene!” he announced. “Is that what you mean--that he opposed your marriage?” asked Mrs. Vivian, with a frightened air. “I don’t know what he proposes to do with Blanche,” said Bernard, laughing. There were voices in the hall. Angela had been listening. “You say she will come back to you, mamma,” she exclaimed. “Here she is arrived!” CHAPTER XXVII At the same moment the door was thrown open, and Mrs. Gordon appeared on the threshold with a gentleman behind her. Blanche stood an instant looking into the lighted room and hesitating--flushed a little, smiling, extremely pretty. “May I come in?” she said, “and may I bring in Captain Lovelock?” The two ladies, of course, fluttering toward her with every demonstration of hospitality, drew her into the room, while Bernard proceeded to greet the Captain, who advanced with a certain awkward and bashful majesty, almost sweeping with his great stature Mrs. Vivian’s humble ceiling. There was a tender exchange of embraces between Blanche and her friends, and the charming visitor, losing no time, began to chatter with her usual volubility. Mrs. Vivian and Angela made her companion graciously welcome; but Blanche begged they would n’t mind him--she had only brought him as a watch-dog. “His place is on the rug,” she said. “Captain Lovelock, go and lie down on the rug.” “Upon my soul, there is nothing else but rugs in these French places!” the Captain rejoined, looking round Mrs. Vivian’s salon. “Which rug do you mean?”