“Not in so many words, perhaps. But you implied it. You said that you wouldn’t take up with an adventurer.” “Your conclusion does not follow.” “Indeed it does, dear, for I firmly believe the man to be a worthless adventurer.” “He is a jeweller’s agent, doing a good business.” “So he says. But haven’t you noticed that he transacts his business at very unbusiness-like times? He’s out to-day, but the circumstance is exceptional. He generally goes to bed about two o’clock, rises late, loafs about the house for hours, and goes out upon this ostensible business of his towards evening, when work of his sort is, or ought to be, over. Besides, how could an agent live by doing business in Lina alone? Will and I are not the only two people who have talked him over, and the consensus of opinion is that he is not to be trusted, and is a man against whom you ought to be warned.” “It is very kind of you to talk about my private affairs to all sorts of people. Be good enough to tell Will that I’m exceedingly obliged to him.” “Now, don’t be rusty! You know that Will is as fond of you as I am, and that nothing would grieve him more than to think you were unhappy. Oh, look what a pretty girl is getting out of that conveyance! Why, she is coming here. I wonder what she wants.” Phœbe Dollman also forgot her slight illhumour, and looked with interest upon the tall golden-haired beauty approaching the door. Presently a card was brought in to Mrs. Dollman, and the Spanish servant informed her that a lady wished to speak to her. The name on the card was Una Stratton, and very speedily Mrs. Dollman was conversing with the owner of it. Miss Stratton, it appeared, was a lady artist, who wished to enrich her portfolio by sketching some Spanish scenes and people. She had been recommended to Mrs. Dollman’s boarding-house by a Mr. Smith, who had obtained the address for her from a friend who had spent a few weeks at Lina in the early summer. Mrs. Dollman did not know who could be the especial gentleman who had been good enough to recommend her lodgings. But she had had several boarders who were little more than birds of passage, being en route for other places, and the gentleman through whom Miss Stratton had obtained her address might be one of those. Anyhow, things seemed to be straightforward enough. The young lady offered to pay for her board in advance, and Mrs. Dollman, who was quite charmed with the new arrival, promptly closed with her. Nor did she raise any objections when Miss Stratton announced that she wished to bring another boarder with her in the shape of a big Newfoundland dog, who was even now waiting outside for her. In a very short time everything was satisfactorily arranged, and the new boarder installed in comfortable quarters.