Half an hour later, the circling currents to which he surrendered himself brought him before a row of chairs, where sat the three ladies and, by the side of Miss Tomalin, Lord Dymchurch. May, flushed and bright-eyed, was talking at a great rate; she seemed to be laying down the law in some matter, and Dymchurch, respectfully bent towards her, listened with a thoughtful smile. Dyce approached, and spoke to Constance. A few moments afterwards, Lord Dymchurch rose, bowed, and withdrew; whereupon Lashmar asked Miss Tomalin's permission to take the vacant chair. It was granted rather absently; for the girl's eyes had furtively followed her late companion as he moved away, and she seemed more disposed to reflect than to begin a new conversation. This passed, however; soon she was talking politics with an air of omniscience which Lashmar could only envy. "May I take you down to the supper-room?" he asked presently. The chaperon and Miss Bride were engaged in conversation with a man who stood behind them. "Yes, let us go," said May, rising. "I'm thirsty." She spoke a word to the lady responsible for her, and swept off with Lashmar. "How delightful it is,". Dyce exclaimed, "to gather such a lot of interesting people!" "Isn't it!" May responded. "One feels really alive here. You would hardly believe--" she gave him a confidential look--"that this is my first season in London." "Indeed it isn't easy to believe," said Dyce, in the tone of compliment. "I always thought of a London season," pursued May, "as mere frivolity. Of course there is a great deal of that. But here one sees only cultured and serious people; it makes one feel how much hope there is for the world, in spite of everything. The common Socialists talk dreadful nonsense about Society; of course it's mere ignorance." "To be sure," Lashmar assented, with inward mirth. "Their views are inevitably so narrow.--How long do you stay in town?" "I'm afraid my aunt's health will oblige me to return to Rivenoak very soon. She has been seeing doctors. I don't know what they tell her, but I notice that she isn't quite herself this last day or two." "Wonderful old lady, isn't she?" Dyce exclaimed. "Oh, wonderful! You have known her for a long time, haven't you?" "No, not very long. But we have talked so much, and agree so well in our views, that I think of her as quite an old friend.--What can I get you? Do you like iced coffee?" Dyce seated her, and tended upon her as though no such thing as a "method" with women had ever entered his mind. His demeanour was lamentably old-fashioned. What it lacked in natural grace, Miss Tomalin was not critical enough to perceive. "How nice it will be," she suddenly remarked, "when you are in Parliament! Of course you will invite us to tea on the terrace, and all that kind of thing." "I'm sure I hope I shall have the chance. My election is by no means a certainty, you know. The Tories are very strong at Hollingford."