"Oh, quite well," replied Mrs. Storey, with one or two little bobbing curtseys, as she took the chair handed her by that polite individual. "I am very sorry Mr. Storey is not at home, and we might, perhaps, induce the Colonel to stop dinner with us." "A thousand thanks, my dear madam; but I must dine with the Guards to-day, and only ran down here to ask Miss Vernon's commands for Ireland." "Oh, indeed! I did not know you were Irish." "Nor am I; but I like good fishing, and plenty of fun, and both are to be had in Paddy's land." "I fear you will not find much of the last now," said Kate. "What a pity the Colonel is running away before the 30th," said Mrs. Storey. "We have a few friends and a little music, and, perhaps, you would have joined us," continued the hospitable little woman who thought how much Colonel's Dashwood's fine figure and _air distingué_ would astonish the Bayswater world. "You had better stay," suggested Kate. "Ah! unfortunately, it is not in my power." "Were you at the Countess of B----'s grand ball on Friday night, Colonel Dashwood?" asked Mrs. Storey, anxious to get up a little fashionable talk, and to show her knowledge of the great world. "Lady B----, no! did she give a ball? I remember her--she is an awful old woman. I never go to balls in London--they are such tame correct things--country quarters spoil one for your regular dazzling scenes." Kate could not refrain from a smile at the amazement depicted on Mrs. Storey's countenance at this sally. "Talking of balls," resumed Colonel Dashwood, "reminds me of an indefatigable dancer, at least, in former years: Fred Egerton; I had a letter the other day, from him; he does not seem to have got mine, when he wrote. The mail is extremely irregular, during all this skirmishing--he appears to be suffering from some neglected wound, and is fretting at his inactivity--he used to be the easiest going fellow on earth; but Sir John M---- was telling me the other day, that they hold him to be one of the smartest officers on our Indian establishment, at present--he is a capital fellow, at all events. By-the-bye, he asks where you and the--." Dashwood stopped short; "I mean my late friend, Colonel Vernon, are which shows he had not received any letters or papers for an immense time." Kate silently reclined her head, and after exchanging a few more remarks with Mrs. Storey, Colonel Dashwood took his leave, promising, with great earnestness, that should anything occur to delay his departure, he would, without fail, make his appearance among the "expected few friends," on the 30th. "Good-bye, Miss Vernon," said he, pressing her hand kindly; "thanks for your _carte du pays_; take care of yourself, for I cannot give a very flourishing account of you to Lady Desmond; there is more of the _beauté fragile_ in your appearance, than I like to see. When do you join your cousin?"