. She is engaged to be married to Jack Meredith, you
know. That is why they quarrelled--the father and son. You will find a
little difficulty with her too. She is a difficult girl. But I dare say
you will manage to tell her what she wants to know."

"Yes," said Jocelyn quietly--almost too quietly, "I shall manage."

Lady Cantourne rose, and so did Jocelyn.

"You know," she said, looking up into the girl's face, "it is a good
action. That is why I ask you to do it. It is not often that one has the
opportunity of doing a good action to which even one's dearest friend
cannot attribute an ulterior motive. Who is that man over there?"

"That is my brother."

"I should like to know him; but do not bring him to-morrow. We women are
better alone--you understand?"

With a confidential little nod the good lady went away to attend to
other affairs; possibly to carry through some more good actions of a
safe nature.

It was plain to Jocelyn that Maurice was looking for some one. He had
just come, and was making his way through the crowd. Presently she
managed to touch his elbow.

"Oh, there you are!" he exclaimed; "I want you. Come out of this room."

He offered her his arm, and together they made their way out of the
crowded room into a smaller apartment where an amateur reciter was
hovering disconsolately awaiting an audience.

"Here," said Maurice, when they were alone, "I have just had this
telegram."

He handed her the thin, white submarine telegraph-form with its streaks
of adhesive text.

"Relief entirely successful. Meredith Joseph returned Loango. Meredith
bad health."

Jocelyn drew a deep breath.

"So that's all right--eh?" said Maurice heartily.

"Yes," answered Jocelyn, "that is all right."

CHAPTER XXX. OLD BIRDS

Angels call it heavenly joy;
Infernal tortures the devils say;
And men? They call it--Love.

"By the way, dear," said Lady Cantourne to her niece the next afternoon,
"I have asked a Miss Gordon to come to tea this afternoon. I met her
last night at the Fitzmannerings. She lives in Loango and knows Jack.
I thought you might like to know her. She is exceptionally ladylike and
rather pretty."

And straightway Miss Millicent Chyne went upstairs to put on her best
dress.

We men cannot expect to understand these small matters--these
exigencies, as it were, of female life. But we may be permitted to note
feebly en passant through existence that there are occasions