marriage."

"I don't object to home, but I do to marriage."

"Depend on it there is no home for man where there is no woman."

"Prettily said. In that case I resign the home."

"Do you mean seriously to tell me that you never see the woman you could
love enough to make her your wife, and never enter any home that you do
not quit with a touch of envy at the happiness of married life?"

"Seriously, I never see such a woman; seriously, I never enter such a
home."

"Patience, then; your time will come, and I hope it is at hand. Listen
to me. It was only yesterday that I felt an indescribable longing to
see you again,--to know your address that I might write to you; for
yesterday, when a certain young lady left my house after a week's visit,
I said this girl would make a perfect wife, and, above all, the exact
wife to suit Kenelm Chillingly."

"Kenelm Chillingly is very glad to hear that this young lady has left
your house."

"But she has not left London: she is here to-night. She only stayed
with me till her father came to town, and the house he had taken for the
season was vacant; those events happened yesterday."

"Fortunate events for me: they permit me to call on you without danger."

"Have you no curiosity to know, at least, who and what is the young lady
who appears to me so well suited to you?"

"No curiosity, but a vague sensation of alarm."

"Well, I cannot talk pleasantly with you while you are in this
irritating mood, and it is time to quit the hermitage. Come, there are
many persons here, with some of whom you should renew old acquaintance,
and to some of whom I should like to make you known."

"I am prepared to follow Lady Glenalvon wherever she deigns to lead
me,--except to the altar with another."

CHAPTER III.

THE rooms were now full,--not overcrowded, but full,--and it was rarely
even in that house that so many distinguished persons were collected
together. A young man thus honoured by so _grande_ a dame as Lady
Glenalvon could not but be cordially welcomed by all to whom she
presented him, Ministers and Parliamentary leaders, ball-givers, and
beauties in vogue,--even authors and artists; and there was something in
Kenelm Chillingly, in his striking countenance and figure, in that calm
ease of manner natural to his indifference to effect, which seemed to
justify the favour shown to him by the brilliant princess of fashion and
mark him out for general observation.

That first evening