“You said you were up against it--that was it. And--and I've seen chaps down on their luck often enough. Good Lord, the hard-luck stories I hear every day of my life. And they get a sort of look about the eyes and mouth. I hate to see it on any fellow. It makes me sort of sick to come across it even in a chap that's only got his fool self to blame. I may be making another break, telling you--but you looked sort of that way.” “Perhaps,” stolidly, “I did.” Then, his voice warming, “It was jolly good-natured of you to think about it at all. Thank you.” “That's all right,” in polite acknowledgment. Then with another look over the hedge, “Say--what ought I to call you? Earl, or my Lord?” “It's not necessary for you to call me anything in particular--as a rule. If you were speaking of me, you might say Lord Mount Dunstan.” G. Selden looked relieved. “I don't want to be too much off,” he said. “And I'd like to ask you a favour. I've only three weeks here, and I don't want to miss any chances.” “What chance would you like?” “One of the things I'm biking over the country for, is to get a look at just such a place as this. We haven't got 'em in America. My old grandmother was always talking about them. Before her mother brought her to New York she'd lived in a village near some park gates, and she chinned about it till she died. When I was a little chap I liked to hear her. She wasn't much of an American. Wore a black net cap with purple ribbons in it, and hadn't outlived her respect for aristocracy. Gee!” chuckling, “if she'd heard what I said to you just now, I reckon she'd have thrown a fit. Anyhow she made me feel I'd like to see the kind of places she talked about. And I shall think myself in luck if you'll let me have a look at yours--just a bike around the park, if you don't object--or I'll leave the bike outside, if you'd rather.” “I don't object at all,” said Mount Dunstan. “The fact is, I happened to be on the point of asking you to come and have some lunch--when you got on your bicycle.” Selden pushed his cap and cleared his throat. “I wasn't expecting that,” he said. “I'm pretty dusty,” with a glance at his clothes. “I need a wash and brush up--particularly if there are ladies.” There were no ladies, and he could be made comfortable. This being explained to him, he was obviously rejoiced. With unembarrassed frankness, he expressed exultation. Such luck had not, at any time, presented itself to him as a possibility in his holiday scheme. “By gee,” he ejaculated, as they walked under the broad oaks of the avenue leading to the house. “Speaking of luck, this is the limit! I can't help thinking of what my grandmother would say if she saw me.”