in London society, Captain Duchesne knew
only the name and nothing of the character of the man whom Lady Alice
had married and left. It was vaguely supposed that he was not a very
respectable character, and that no woman of spirit would have submitted
to live with him any longer. Lady Alice's reputation stood so high that
it could not be supposed that any one except her husband was in fault.
Brooke is not an uncommon name. In certain circles the name of Caspar
Brooke was known well enough; but was not often identified with the man
who had run away with an earl's daughter. He had other claims to repute,
but in a world to which Lady Alice had not the right of entry.

When Harry Duchesne had departed Lady Alice went with Lesley to her
bedroom. Mother and daughter sat down together, clasping each other's
hands, and looking wistfully from time to time into each other's faces,
but saying very little. The wish to ask questions faded out of Lesley's
mind. She could not ask more than her mother chose to tell her.

But Lady Alice thought that she had already said too much, and she
restrained her tongue. It was after a long and pregnant silence that she
murmured--

"Lesley, my child, I want you to promise me something."

"Oh, yes, mamma!"

"I feel like one who is sending a lamb forth into the midst of wolves.
Not that Mr. Brooke is a wolf--exactly," said Lady Alice, with a forced
laugh, "but I mean that you are young and--and--unsophisticated, and
that there may be a mixture of people at his house."

Lesley was silent; she did not quite know what "a mixture of people"
would be like.

"I am so afraid for you, darling," said her mother, pleadingly. "Afraid
lest you should be drawn into relationships and connections that you
might afterwards regret: Do you understand me? Will you promise me to
make no vows of any sort while you are away from me? Only for one year,
my child--promise me for the year."

"I don't think I quite understand you, mamma."

"Must I put it so plainly? I mean this, Lesley. Don't engage yourself to
be married while you are in your father's house."

"Oh, that is easily promised!" said Lesley, with a smile of frank
amusement and relief.

"It may not be so easy to carry out as you think. Give me your word,
darling. You promise not to form any engagement of marriage for a year?
You promise me that?"

"Oh, yes, mamma, I promise," said the girl, so lightly that Lady Alice
almost felt that she had done an