Dick regarded her wistfully, and raised the last piece of the crust of his slice of bread and butter to throw at her, then refrained, with a reluctant sigh. "I never saw anything like it out of a fashion plate. You ought to have been there, mamma," he put in, parenthetically. "You'd have appreciated them, no doubt, whereas I wasn't capable of anything but staring. They were swells--real swells, too; for I spoke to one of the crew who had Strolled up from the boat. The yacht's that racer, the _Seagull_. Do you know her, Mr. Vernon?" "I've heard of her," said Drake. "I forget the name of her owner; though the man told me; but he's a nobleman of sorts. There were no end of titled and fashionable people on board. A Sir--Sir Archie something; and a Lord and Lady Turfleigh, father and daughter--perhaps you know them?" Drake looked at him through half-closed eyes. "Yes, I've heard of them," he said. "May I have another cup of tea, Mrs. Lorton? Thanks, very much. The sail this morning has made me ravenous." "I am so delighted," murmured Mrs. Lorton. "What name did you say, Richard? Turfleigh! Surely I have heard or seen that name----" "I beg your pardon," said Drake, "but if Dick has quite finished his tea, I think I'll stroll down to the stables and look at the horses." "Oh, right you are! Come on!" exclaimed Dick, with alacrity. Mrs. Lorton looked after the tall figure as it went out beside the boy's. "Mr. Vernon must be very well off, Eleanor," she said musingly, and with a little, satisfied smile at the corners of her mouth. "Three horses. And have you noticed that pearl stud? It is a black one, and must have cost a great deal; and there is a certain look, air, about him, which you, my dear Eleanor, are not likely to notice or understand, but which, to one of my experience of the world, is significant. Did he seem to enjoy his sail this morning?" "Yes, I think so," absently replied Nell, who was watching the tall figure as it went down the hill. Mrs. Lorton coughed in a genteel fashion, and her smile grew still more self-satisfied. "He could not be in a better place," she said; "could not possibly, and I do trust he will not think of leaving us until he is quite restored to health. I must really impress upon him how glad we are to have him, and how his presence cheers our dull and lonely lives." Nell laughed softly. "Mr. Vernon does not strike me as being particularly cheerful," she remarked; "at least, not generally," she qualified, as she remembered the unwonted brightness which he had displayed in the _Annie Laurie_.