m; the very soldiers
look like masses of grey stone, stuck on the horses' backs with iron
paste."

"The second carriage," said Constantia, "looks as if it contained a
prisoner--see, a soldier rides at each door." She turned still paler as
she spoke, and grasped the arm of Lady Frances with all her strength,
though support was required but for a moment. The motion was unnoticed
by her friend, who added in her usually gay tone--

"A good guess! And who is in the third? some other caged animal; one of
my father's pet lions, or leopards, or creatures of that sort: pet or no
pet, I would rather see what it contains than all the others put
together--so much for woman's curiosity!"

"The guard are entering the great gates," said Constantia, "and whether
he bring me weal or woe, friend or foe, I must receive the Protector, so
as to show our sense of the more than honour he has done us."

"Constantia!" exclaimed Lady Frances, who still lingered at the window,
"there is a fourth carriage, a foreign-looking one, with an overgrown
boot, and no attendants--coming behind the train, like the last bit of
paper at the tail of a boy's kite. I marvel more than any who that can
contain?"

"Will you not come with me to receive your father?" said Constantia,
extending her hand to her friend. Lady Frances tripped across the room
and took it within hers.

"Constantia, nothing frights you from your propriety!--I am ready."

The sudden, though anticipated visit of the Protector, produced a
proportionate degree of embarrassment and confusion among all the
inmates of Cecil Place. At any other time, the bare intimation of such
an honour would have turned their heads, and inspired their heels with
the alacrity of St. Vitus himself; but they had felt too much interest
in the events of the past week to experience the full joy to which, at
any other time, they would have yielded. As it was, housekeeper, porter,
steward, cook, butler, and their subordinates, set about the necessary
preparations with the dexterity and alertness of servants who know that
their first duty is obedience, not only of their employer's words, but
their wishes:--not one but felt the warmest interest in all that
concerned their dear master, and still more dear mistress; they would
have gladly sacrificed their lives to make her happy: in them was
clearly shown the "constant service of the antique world." Solomon
Grundy, as usual, having the smallest quantity of brains, was