gton had been kind enough to send me
a card I came on."

Lord Redford nodded.

"Borrowdean and Anstruther are here too," he remarked. "We all felt in
need of diversion. As you know very well, we're in a tight corner."

Berenice came out from her place. At the sound of the rustling of her
skirts both men turned their heads. She wore a gown of black velvet and a
wonderful rope of pearls hung from her neck. She raised her hand and
smiled at Mannering.

"I am glad to see you again," she said, softly. "It is quite an age since
we met, isn't it?"

He held her hand for a moment. The touch of his fingers chilled her. He
greeted her with quiet courtesy, but there was no answering smile upon
his lips.

"I have heard often of your movements from Clara," he said. "You have
been very kind to her."

"It has never occurred to me in that light," she said. "Clara needs a
chaperon, and I need a companion. We were talking yesterday of going to
Cairo for the winter. My only fear is that I am robbing you of your
niece."

"Please do not let that trouble you," he said. "Clara would be a most
uncomfortable member of my household."

"But are you never at all lonely?" she asked.

"I never have time to think of such a thing," he answered. "Besides, I
have Hester. She makes a wonderful secretary, and she seems to enjoy the
work."

"I should like to have a talk with you some time," she said. "Won't you
come and see me?"

He hesitated.

"It is very kind of you to ask me," he said. "Don't think me churlish,
but I go nowhere. I am trying to make up, you see, for my years of
idleness."

She looked at him steadfastly, and her heart sank. The change in
his outward appearance seemed typical of some deeper and more final
alteration in his whole nature. She felt herself powerless against the
absolute impenetrability of his tone and manner. She felt that he had
fought a battle within himself and conquered; that for some reason or
other he had decided to walk no longer in the pleasanter paths of life.
She had come to him unexpectedly, but he had shown no sign of emotion.
Her influence over him seemed to be wholly a thing of the past. She made
one more effort.

"I think," she said, "that as one grows older one parts the less readily
with the few friends who count. I hope that you will change your mind."

He bowed gravely, but he made no answer. Berenice took Borrowdean's
arm and passed on. There was a little spot of colour in her cheeks.