“Only the House of Lords and a few leading Conservatives,” said Lord Denton with flippancy. “The workingman who has the courage to refuse to work, and the Liberal members who have the grit to demand salaries for upsetting the Constitution, led by a few eminent Ministers who delight to remove their neighbour’s landmark, and relieve his pocket, are the splendid fellows of the grand new opening era of prosperity and greatness.” “Still,” put in Quin hopefully, “it is very fashionable to go big-game shooting nowadays, and an African lion may yet chew up a few of them.” “Poor lion!” quoth Lorraine; “but what a fine finale for the king of beasts, to chew up the despoilers of kings. Shall we go to the drawing-room?” And she rose to lead the way. A Bridge table was arranged in an alcove for Hal and three of the men, and Lorraine and Hermon sat over the fire for preference. They were far enough away from the players to be able to speak of them unheard, and Hermon, in the course of their conversation, mentioned that he saw something different in Hal tonight to what he had noticed before. Lorraine thought she was only very lively, but Hermon looked doubtful. He could not express what he seemed to see, but in some way her liveliness held a new note. He thought she had more tone and a new kind of assurance, and he tried to explain it to Lorraine. “I expect she’s had a jolly afternoon,” was all Lorraine said, with a smile. “She has been to the Zoo with Sir Edwin Crathie.” “Has she?” significantly, and Hermon raised his eyebrows. “Are they still friends, then? I thought she only knew him slightly.” “That was at the beginning,” and Lorraine glanced at him with the smile deepening in her eyes. “There always has to be a beginning—doesn’t there?” But no answering smile shone in Alymer Hermon’s face, rather a slight shade of anxiety as he glanced across the room at Hal. “I should not like a sister of mine to have much to do with Sir Edwin Crathie,” he said gravely. “Perhaps not, you dear old Solemn-acre,” giving his arm a gentle pat; “but a sister of yours would not have learned early to battle with the world as Hal has.” “But surely if she is less protected than a sister of mine would have been, there is the greater cause for caution.”