"I wonder Dick isn't home to dinner," remarked Mrs. Stuart when that meal came round. "I do hope he isn't going back to his old habit of staying out. He heard to-day that his application for a post in the Salt Department was refused, and he has no patience like my own boys. I do hope he will come to no harm." The empty chair renewed Belle's remorseful regret. "Well! I can't have him kicking his heels in my office much longer," remarked the Colonel crossly. "The head-clerk complains of him. Confound his impudence! he actually interfered in the accounts the other day, and showed regular distrust. I must have good feeling in the office; that's a _sine qua non_." "Oh, Dick's got a splendid opinion of himself," broke in Stanley. "He had the cheek to tell Raby yesterday that he played too much _écarté_ with--" The speaker remembered his audience too late. Colonel Stuart grew purple and breathless. "Do you mean to say that the boy,--that _boy_--presumed to speak to Raby,--to _my friend_ Raby--about his private actions? Lucilla! What is the world coming to?" This was a problem never propounded to his wife save under dire provocation, and the answer invariably warned him not to expect his own high standard from the world. This time she ventured upon a timid addition to the effect that rumour did accuse Mr. Raby of playing high. "And if he does," retorted the Colonel, "he can afford to pay. Raby, my dear, is a fine young fellow, with good principles,--deuced good principles, let me tell you." "I am very glad to hear it, Charles, I'm sure; for it would be a pity if a nice, clever, young man, who would make any girl a good husband, were to get into bad habits." "Raby is a man any girl might be proud to marry. He is a good fellow." He looked at Belle, who smiled at him absently; she was wondering where Dick could be. "Raby isn't a Christian," remarked Mabel. "He told us yesterday he was something else. What was it, Maud?" "An erotic Buddhist." "Esoteric," suggested Belle. "It's all the same. He said we were the three Thibetan sisters and he worshipped us all. But we know who it is, don't we?" "How you giggle, girls!" complained Colonel Stuart fretfully. "Belle never giggles. Dear child, I will teach you _écarté_ this evening. It will amuse you." It amused him, which was more to the purpose; in addition it prevented him from falling asleep after dinner, which he was particularly anxious not to do that evening. So they played until, just as the clock was striking ten, a step was heard outside, and Colonel Stuart rose with a relieved remark that it must be John Raby at last. The opening door, however, only admitted truant Dick with rather a flushed face. "From Raby," he said handing a note to his uncle. "I met the man outside."