"'I'm awfully grateful to you,' she said; 'I'm sure I'd do any thing in the world to repay you. I'm sure I don't know what would have become of me if it hadn't been for you. And I hope you'll excuse me for putting you to so much trouble. And, oh!' she concluded, half to herself, 'what _will_ Kitty say now?'" "Kitty! Who's Kitty?" "I don't know." "All right. Never mind. Drive on, old chap." "Well, I mumbled something or other, and then offered to go and get their carriage. But they would not hear of it. The child-angel said she could walk. This I strongly dissuaded her from doing, and Ethel insisted that the men should carry her. This was done, and in a short time we got back to the Hermitage, where the old lady was in no end of a worry. In the midst of the row I slipped away, and waited till the carriage drove off. Then I followed at a sufficient distance not to be observed, and saw where their house was." [Illustration: THE MEETING.] CHAPTER V. THE BEGINNING OF BLUNDERS. Dacres paused now, and lighting a fresh cigar, smoked away at it in silence, with long and solemn and regular puffs. Hawbury watched him for some time, with a look of dreamy curiosity and lazy interest. Then he rose, and dawdled about the room for a few minutes. Then he lighted a cigar, and finally, resuming his seat, he said: "By Jove!" Dacres puffed on. "I'm beginning to think," said Hawbury, "that your first statement is correct. You are shot, my boy--hit hard--and all that; and now I should like to ask you one question." "Ask away." "What are you going to do about it? Do you intend to pursue the acquaintance?" "Of course. Why not?" "What do you intend to do next?" "Next? Why, call on her, and inquire after her health." "Very good." "Well, have you any thing to say against that?" "Certainly not. Only it surprises me a little." "Why?" "Because I never thought of Scone Dacres as a marrying man, and can't altogether grapple with the idea." "I don't see why a fellow shouldn't marry if he wants to," said Dacres. "What's the matter with me that I shouldn't get married as well as lots of fellows?" "No reason in the world, my dear boy. Marry as many wives as you choose. My remark referred merely to my own idea of you, and not to any thing actually innate in your character. So don't get huffy at a fellow." Some further conversation followed, and Dacres finally took his departure, full of thoughts about his new acquaintance, and racking his brains to devise some way of securing access to her. On the following evening he made his appearance once more at Hawbury's rooms. "Well, old man, what's up? Any thing more about the child-angel?" "Well, a little. I've found out her name." "Ah! What is it?" "Fay. Her name is Minnie Fay." "Minnie Fay. I never heard of the name before. Who are her people?" "She is traveling with Lady Dalrymple." "The Dowager, I suppose?" "Yes." "Who are the other ladies?" "Well, I don't exactly remember."