“Are you great at the oar, Rhoda?” Isabel asked, going over to a seat by the girl, and taking her hand affectionately. It was an impulse of pity; Rhoda looked so sad, though she smiled. “My function is steering,” was the reply. “What a wise girl! And how did you all enjoy yourselves at Eastbourne? You can’t think how tempted I was to join you. If only it hadn’t been such a long way.” “I hope you feel no permanent ill results of your accident?” Mr. Meres asked. “None, I really think. But, oh dear! I’m growing old.” Hilda broke into her cheery laugh; Rhoda and her father smiled; even Ada moved her lips incredulously. “How dare you all make fun of me? Hilda, stop laughing at once.” “Old, indeed, Mrs. Clarendon! That I don’t think you’ll ever be.” It was Isabel’s delight to hear these words; she flushed with pleasure. “I want you girls to come and lunch with me to-morrow--no, the day after; to-morrow I am engaged. But I forgot; can you come, Hilda?” “Yes, on Saturday.” “That’s just right, then. And can you dine with me on Sunday, Mr. Meres? I shall have some one you would like to know, I think. Mr. Kingcote, Ada; he is in London now. You must give Mr. Meres an account of him.” She did not stay much longer, and went, as always, leaving kind thoughts behind her. Should we not value those who have this power of touching hearts to the nobler life of emotion as they pass? CHAPTER VIII. That friend of Kingcote’s, Gabriel by name, of whom we have heard, had his studio on the north side of Regent’s Park, in a house which also supplied him with a bedroom, this double accommodation sufficing to his needs. In regard to light the painting-room was badly contrived; formerly two rooms, it had been made into one by the simple removal of a partition, and of its three windows one looked south, the others west. From the latter was visible the smug, plebeian slope of Primrose Hill; the former faced a public-house. Gabriel would tell you impressively that the air in this part of London was very good. He lived here, in truth, because he could not afford to live in a better place.