vice. "He is a very clever organist," he
repeated; "his name is Sharnall, and he lodges in this house. Shall I
call him? Would you like to ask him about the organ?"

"Oh no, not now; I have so little time; another day we can have a chat.
Surely a very little money--comparatively little money, I mean--would
put the organ in proper repair. Did they never approach my grandfather,
the late Lord Blandamer, on the question of funds for these
restorations?"

Westray's hopes of a contribution were again dashed, and he felt a
little contemptuous at such evasions. They came with an ill grace after
Lord Blandamer's needlessly affectionate panegyric of the church.

"Yes," he said; "Canon Parkyn, the Rector here, wrote to the late Lord
Blandamer begging for a subscription to the restoration fund for the
church, but never got any answer."

Westray flung something like a sneer into his tone, and was already
sorry for his ungracious words before he had finished speaking. But the
other seemed to take no offence, where some would have been offended.

"Ah," he said, "my grandfather was no doubt a very sad old man indeed.
I must go now, or I shall miss my train. You shall introduce me to Mr
Sharnall the next time I come to Cullerne; I have your promise,
remember, to take me over the church. Is it not so?"

"Yes--oh yes, certainly," Westray said, though with less cordiality
perhaps than he had used on the previous occasion. He was disappointed
that Lord Blandamer had promised no subscription, and accompanied him to
the foot of the stairs with much the same feelings as a shop-assistant
entertains for the lady who, having turned over goods for half an hour,
retreats with the promise that she will consider the matter and call
again.

Miss Joliffe had been waiting on the kitchen stairs, and so was able to
meet Lord Blandamer in the hall quite accidentally. She showed him out
of the front-door with renewed professions of respect, for she knew
nothing of his niggardly evasions of a subscription, and in her eyes a
lord was still a lord. He added the comble to all his graces and
courtesies by shaking her hand as he left the house, and expressing a
hope that she would be so kind as to give him another cup of tea, the
very next time he was in Cullerne.

The light was failing as Lord Blandamer descended the flight of steps
outside the door of Bellevue Lodge. The evening must have closed in
earlier than usual, for very soon after t