This Lewis said much too seriously and anxiously for his _rôle_ of spectator, but at the moment, there being no suspicion, no one remarked his nervous earnestness. He cast a sort of appealing glance round the table, with a wistful smile. "No one," he said, "_there_, thought any harm. He was the most astonished himself." "And what kind of a fellow was he," said Stormont, "a gentleman, or just some cad the old man had picked up?" At this Lewis grew red in spite of himself, then did his best to laugh, though the effort was great. "I do not know," he said, "having always lived abroad, what is exactly a cad, and also what, when you come to its exact meaning, is a gentleman?" "Oh, a gentleman--" said Mrs. Seton. "Bless me, what a question? It is just--not to be mistaken: there is no two words about it----No, no--describe it! how could I describe it? A gentleman! my dear Mr. Murray, you can be in no doubt about that." "And a cad is just a cad," said young Stormont, "a fellow, don't you know, that's not a gentleman--just as a hill isn't a river, and can never be." "As distinct as that?" said Lewis. "It is hard upon us who have always lived abroad. It means, to be well-educated and well-bred----" "And well-born, Mr. Murray; you must not leave out that. Well-born, above all things; there's everything in race." "But those whom you meet only in society," said Lewis, "even on the Continent--where every man must have _ses papiers_--he does not carry them about with him. He does not pin a little _carnet_ on his sleeve. You must take him on trust." "That is just the danger of promiscuous society," said Mrs. Seton, briskly. "That is what I always say to papa. It is so easy to be taken in by a fair exterior; and when you don't know who people are, and all about them, it's a serious thing," said the lady, shaking her head, "especially where there are young people. Oh, it is a very serious thing, Mr. Murray. I am sure I always say about ball-room acquaintances and persons of that sort, if harm comes of it, really you have nobody to blame but yourself." There was a pause after this, and a great sense of embarrassment. Katie looked at her mother with anxious, telegraphic communications, of which Mrs. Seton either would not or did not take any notice. Even Mr. Stormont, though not very quick, saw the dilemma. Lewis was the most self-possessed. "I must be more grateful than ever," he said, turning to his hostess, with that conciliatory smile which was so natural to him, "that you have given your hospitality so kindly to one who has no vouchers, no one to speak for him--a stranger." "Bless me, Mr. Murray, I hope you never thought----Dear, dear, you might be sure that was the last thing in my mind. Present company, you know, of course; and then in some cases the first look is enough," said Mrs. Seton, with a gracious bow to her guest.