"I hope you will be comfortable----" She hesitated. "Mrs. Brownie's cottage is very small and----" "Oh, I'm used to roughing it," he cut in; "and perhaps, when I find it too small, you will let me come up and see you----" "In our palatial mansion--for a change." She was bright again, and her eyes were sparkling. After all, though he would not be under the same roof, he would be near--would be in Shorne Mills. "I think I'll go down to Mrs. Brownie's and see if it is all right, and then come up for a cup of tea, if I may," he said, as they neared The Cottage. He opened the gate for her; she gave him a little nod, her sweet face radiant with the new-born happiness which suffused her whole being, and ran in. "Mamma--guess who has come!" she exclaimed breathlessly, as she entered the sitting room where Mrs. Lorton was reclining on the sofa with the _Fashion Gazette_ and a bottle of eau de Cologne beside her. "Dick, I will give you three guesses--with a box of cigarettes as a prize," as Dick sauntered in with the gun under his arm. "My dear Eleanor, why this excitement?" asked Mrs. Lorton rebukingly. "Your face is flushed, and your hat is on one side----" "You'll have to give up drinking in the daytime, Nell," remarked Dick. "No, mamma, the gun will not go off, because it is not loaded. I wish it would, because I'm stone-broke and haven't any more cartridges. If I had a sister worthy of the name, she would advance me a small sum out of her pocket money." "Guess, guess!" broke in Nell impatiently. Dick smiled contemptuously. "Some conceited clown to lecture in the schoolroom?" he said. "We know you of old, my dear Nell. Is there to be any tea this afternoon?" "Clown!" retorted Nell scornfully. "Really, I've a good mind not to tell you until he--he comes himself." "He--who? I must ask you to restrain your excitement, Eleanor. My nerves are in a very sad condition to-day, and I cannot--I really cannot bear any mental strain." "It's Mr. Drake Vernon," said Nell, more soberly. Dick uttered the yell of a rejoicing red Indian; and Mrs. Lorton slid into an upright position with incredible rapidity. "Mr. Vernon! Go on, you're joking, Nell!" cried Dick; "and yet you look pleased enough for it to be true! Mr. Vernon! Hurrah! Sorry, mamma, but my feelings, which usually are under perfect control----" "Is my hair tidy, Eleanor? Take this eau de Cologne away. Where is he? Did you think to bring a tea cake for tea? No, of course not; you think of nothing, nothing! I sometimes wonder why you have not imitated some of the Wolfer tact and readiness." "I met Mr. Vernon on the moor, away from the village. I will make some toast. He is coming up presently. He is going to stay at the Brownies'--this is my best hat. Do be careful!"