s, he had declined a safe seat, and remained the
chosen independent candidate of a great Northern constituency. He
addressed public meetings occasionally, and he contributed to the
reviews. Without having ever finally committed himself to a definite
scheme of tariff reform, he preached everywhere the doctrine of
consideration. In a modified way he was reckoned now as one of its
possible supporters.

They were almost halfway through their dinner when some commotion was
heard in the narrow street outside. Then with much tooting of horns and
the shrill shouting of directions from the bystanders, two heavily laden
touring cars turned slowly into the cobbled courtyard, and drew up within
a few feet of the semicircular line of tables. Mannering's little party
watched the arrivals with an interest shared by every one in the place.
Muffled up in cloaks and veils, they were at first unrecognized. It was
Mannering himself who first realized who they were.

"Clara!" he exclaimed to the young lady who was standing almost by his
side. "Welcome to Bonestre!"

She turned towards him with a little start.

"Uncle!" she exclaimed. "How extraordinary! Why, how long have you been
here?"

"We arrived this afternoon," he answered. "You remember Hester, don't
you? And this is Mrs. Mannering."

Clara shook hands with both. She declared afterwards that she was
surprised into it, but she would certainly never have recognized in the
quiet, rather weary-looking, woman who sat at her uncle's side the
Blanche Phillimore whom she had more than once passionately declared that
she would sooner die than speak to. She murmured a few mechanical words,
and then, suddenly realizing the situation, she glanced a little
anxiously over her shoulder.

"You know who I am with, uncle?" she whispered.

But Mannering was already face to face with Berenice. She held out her
hand without hesitation. If she felt any emotion she concealed it
perfectly. Her voice was steady and cordial, if her cheeks were pale. The
dust lay thickly upon them all. Mannering, tall and grave in his plain
dinner clothes and black tie, stood almost like a statue before her,
until her extended hand invited his movement.

"What an extraordinary meeting," she said, quietly. "I am very glad to
see you again, Mr. Mannering. We have had such a ride, all the way from
Havre along roads an inch thick in dust. This is your wife, is it not?
I am very glad to know you, Mrs. Mannering."

All