"I know the sequel of this comedy," he said. "What do you mean?" asked Nell, staring at him. "Enter swell friend. 'Found at last! Ah, leave this abode of poverty and squalor. Come with me!' and the heroine goeth." Nell laughed. "How foolish you are, Mr. Falconer! The heroine--if you mean me--does not 'goeth,' but remains where she is." "Do you mean it?" he asked, the color rising to his pale face. "Yes," she said, with a cheerful nod. "Then pass the toast," he said. "I breathe again, and tea is possible. But she wanted you to go? Don't deny it!" Nell's pale face flushed. "Yes. She wanted me to go; but I would not. I am going to remain at Beaumont Buildings," said Nell resolutely. As she spoke, the door opened, and Dick entered quickly. His face and hands were smudgy, but his eyes were bright in their rings of smoke and smut. "Hallo, Nell; hallo, Falconer!" he cried. "Eaten all the tea? Hope not, for I'm famishing. Nell, I've got some news for you--wait till I've cleaned myself." "No, you don't!" said Falconer, catching him by the arm. "What is it?" "Oh, not much. Only there's a chance of our leaving these beastly Buildings. I've got to go down to a place in the country to manage some water works, and install the electric light." Falconer's face fell for a moment, then he smiled cheerfully. "Congratulations, old fellow!" he said. "When do you go?" "Oh, in about a fortnight. That's what kept me late. Think of it! The country, Nellakins! Jump for joy, but don't upset the tea things!" "Where is it, Dick?" she asked, as he went to the door. "At a place called Anglemere. One of the ancestral halls, don't you know. 'Historic Castles of England' kind of place." "Anglemere?" said Nell, wrinkling her brows. "I seem to remember it." CHAPTER XXVI. Dick, having "cleaned" and "stoked" himself with tea and toast, vouchsafed for further information: "Anglemere's in Hampshire. It's a tremendous place, so a fellow at the works says, who's seen it; one of the show places, you know; 'a venerable pile,' with a collection of pictures, and a famous library, and all that. Lord Angleford----" "I remember!" Nell broke in, "I met Lady Angleford at Wolfer House; a little woman, and very pretty. She was exceedingly kind to me." "Sensible as well as pretty," murmured Falconer. He had drawn his chair to the window, and was gazing down at the crowded street rather absently and sadly. In a fortnight the girl who had brightened his life, who had transformed Beaumont Buildings into an earthly paradise for him, would be gone! "Oh!" said Dick. "That would have been the late earl's wife. The present one isn't married. He's a young chap--lucky bargee! The late earl died about eighteen months ago, suddenly. I heard old Bardsley talking about it while I was in the office with him. He's been away traveling----" "Who--old Bardsley?" asked Nell.