“Why, you Crœsus, you know it is true,” said Mr. Hammerton. “He will soon be as rich as my dear brother is reputed to be, Miss Tallant; he literally coins money does my friend Arthur; but what is better--and if he were not here, I should be tempted to say more--he paints for the love of his art, and he is as noble a fellow as ever sat before an easel. There!” The young nobleman seemed bent upon exalting the moral and pecuniary worth of Mr. Phillips. He might have had an object to serve in placing his friend’s merits and advantages before Mr. Tallant and his sister, and he laid particular emphasis on “my friend Phillips,” or “my friend Arthur,” and spoke of him with the familiarity of pure regard and esteem. “By-the-by,” said Mr. Hammerton after a pause, “let me explain my unexpected visit to Mr. Tallant. Don’t go away, I beg, Miss Tallant.” “I will return again before you leave, thank you,” said the lady in her sweetest accents. “I heard you were here, sir,” said Mr. Hammerton, resuming an aristocratic dignity of manner, which he assumed with those who were not his intimates (he had not met Mr. Tallant junior frequently), “and thinking you might deem it necessary to give me a call, I preferred to anticipate you.” Mr. Tallant bowed, and twirled his moustache carelessly. “Allow me to present you with a little token of our last meeting,” Mr. Hammerton continued, handing Mr. Tallant a sealed envelope. “Thanks; you are very good,” said the Iron Prince, dropping the note into the side pocket of his loose morning coat. “Will you not look at it, and see that it is quite right?” “No, thank you; I have no fear about that. Shall I offer you a cigar? The ladies will allow us to smoke on the lawn just outside the window.” Mr. Tallant handed Mr. Hammerton his cigar-case. “May I offer one to my friend?” said Mr. Hammerton, looking round for Mr. Phillips, who had strolled into the drawing-room. “By all means. Mr. Phillips, will you do me the pleasure of joining us in a cigar?” said Mr. Tallant, raising his voice; at which the artist returned to the library. Just then Phœbe and Amy entered, and Mr. Hammerton expressed great pleasure at seeing Miss Somerton. Mr. Richard Tallant thought he saw in Amy’s face, as she returned Mr. Hammerton’s graceful salutation, an expression of love and admiration; but this might have originated out of what he had heard in the summer-house, and he felt annoyed in spite of himself, and without really knowing why. “Shall we have our smoke?” he said, a little impatiently. “The ladies will excuse us, and we can walk outside on the grass.” “Presently, Mr. Tallant,” said the young nobleman, entering into a conversation with Miss Tallant and Amy about a score of trifling things. “Don’t let us detain you, pray,” said Miss Tallant; and by-and-by Mr. Tallant and Mr. Hammerton, with Mr. Phillips between them, sauntered leisurely up and down the lawn, whilst Phœbe returned to the new books.