"Yes; I suppose so. It would not be a bad idea to keep this young fellow, for I'm told that he has done the work very well. I've not seen him or his sister. I hear that she is an extremely pretty girl, and very ladylike, and I meant calling at the lodge and asking if they were comfortable; but I have been so busy." "I can quite understand that," he said. "I only hope you will not have tired yourself out for to-morrow night." She laughed. "I am not easily tired; and I'm tough, though I'm small," she retorted, with her pretty twang. "By the way, speaking of to-morrow night. I wonder whether this Mr. Falconer would come up and play----" She hesitated, and looked at him doubtfully. Drake smiled. "You think he may be some swell musician?" he said. "Too swell to play for money? It's likely." "No, it wasn't that; I was thinking that I could scarcely ask him without asking the girl. He's engaged to her, I'm told." "That's one of those problems which a man is quite unqualified to solve," he said indifferently. "Well, I'll ask them, and chance it. Oh, here are some of the carriages. Would you like to run away, or will you----" But he went to the front to meet and greet his guests. A couple of hours later, while the trio at the lodge were at supper, the servant brought in two notes. "One for me, and one for you, Mr. Falconer. And from the house! Do you see the coronet on the envelope? I wonder what it is? Perhaps a polite intimation that we are to clear out!" said Nell. "Or an equally polite request that we will keep off the grass," said Dick. "Do you know how to find out what's in that envelope, Nell?" "No," she said, holding it up to the light. "By opening it, my brainless one!" "Mr. Falconer, you are nearer him than I am; will you oblige me by kicking him? Oh, Dick! It's an invitation to the dance to-morrow--for you and me." "And for me," said Falconer. "And will I be so very kind as to bring my violin?" "Very kind of 'em," said Dick. "I should like it very much," as he lifted his tankard, "but there won't be any dancing for me to-morrow night, unless I indulge in a hornpipe in the engine room. I'm going to stick there on guard right away from the beginning to the end of the hop. I should never forgive myself if anything went wrong with those blessed lights. But you and Falconer can go and foot it to your heart's content." "Quite impossible," said Nell emphatically. "I haven't a dress. So that settles me. Besides, Mrs. Hawksley, the housekeeper, has been kind enough to ask me to go into the gallery and look on, and I accepted gratefully." "Among the servants?" said Dick, rather dubiously. "Why not?" said Nell, stoutly. "I don't in the least mind. I shall enjoy looking down--for the first time in my life--upon Mr. Falconer." Falconer smiled and shook his head.