g, laid her hand on Lady Tranmore's. "The fact is, he wrote to me
last autumn from Japan. You remember that poor cousin of mine who died
at Tokio? Mr. Cliffe had seen something of him, and he very kindly wrote
both to his mother and me afterwards. Then--"

"You didn't forgive him!" cried Lady Tranmore.

Mary laughed.

"Was there anything to forgive? We were both young and foolish. Anyway,
he interests me--and his letters are splendid."

"Did you ever tell William you were corresponding with him?"

"No, indeed! But I want very much to make them understand each other
better. Why shouldn't the government make use of him? He doesn't wish at
all to be thrown into the arms of the other side. But they treat him so
badly--"

"My dear Mary! are we governed by the proper people, or are we not?"

"It is no good ignoring the press," said Mary, holding herself
gracefully erect. "And the Bishop quite agrees with me."

Lady Tranmore sank back in her seat.

"You discussed it with the Bishop?" It was now some time since Mary had
last brought the family Bishop--her cousin, and Lady Tranmore's--to bear
upon an argument between them. But Elizabeth knew that his appearance in
the conversation invariably meant a <i>fait accompli</i> of some sort.

"I read him some of Mr. Cliffe's letters," said Mary, modestly. "He
thought them most remarkable."

"Even when he mocks at missionaries?"

"Oh! but he doesn't mock at them any more. He has learned wisdom--I
assure you he has!"

Lady Tranmore's patience almost departed, Mary's look was so penetrated
with indulgence for the prejudices of a dear but unreasonable relation.
But she managed to preserve it.

"And you knew he was coming home?"

"Oh yes!" said Mary. "I meant to have told you at dinner. But something
put it out of my head--Kitty, of course! I shouldn't wonder if he were
at the embassy to-night."

"Polly! tell me--"--Lady Tranmore gripped Miss Lyster's hand with some
force--"are you going to marry him?"

"Not that I know of," was the smiling reply. "Don't you think I'm old
enough by now to have a man friend?"

"And you expect me to be civil to him!"

"Well, dear Cousin Elizabeth--you know--you never did break with him,
quite."

Lady Tranmore, in her bewilderment, reflected that she had certainly
meant to complete the process whenever she and Mr. Cliffe should meet
again. Aloud she could only say, rather stiffly:

"I can't forget that William disapproves of him stron