' liveries were dark-blue
coats and silver lace, and breeches of neutral Indian red. The whole
concern formed an organic whole, and moved along behind a pair of dark
chestnut geldings, who advanced in an indifferently zealous trot, very
daintily performed, and occasionally shrugged divers points of their
veiny surface as if they were rather above the business.

In this sat a gentleman with no decided characteristics more than
that he somewhat resembled a good-natured commercial traveller of
the superior class. Beside him was a lady with skim-milky eyes and
complexion, belonging to the "interesting" class of women, where that
class merges in the sickly, her greatest pleasure being apparently to
enjoy nothing. Opposite this pair sat two little girls in white hats and
blue feathers.

The lady saw Elfride, smiled and bowed, and touched her husband's elbow,
who turned and received Elfride's movement of recognition with a gallant
elevation of his hat. Then the two children held up their arms to
Elfride, and laughed gleefully.

'Who is that?'

'Why, Lord Luxellian, isn't it?' said Mrs. Swancourt, who with the vicar
had been seated with her back towards them.

'Yes,' replied Elfride. 'He is the one man of those I have seen here
whom I consider handsomer than papa.'

'Thank you, dear,' said Mr. Swancourt.

'Yes; but your father is so much older. When Lord Luxellian gets a
little further on in life, he won't be half so good-looking as our man.'

'Thank you, dear, likewise,' said Mr. Swancourt.

'See,' exclaimed Elfride, still looking towards them, 'how those little
dears want me! Actually one of them is crying for me to come.'

'We were talking of bracelets just now. Look at Lady Luxellian's,' said
Mrs. Swancourt, as that baroness lifted up her arm to support one of the
children. 'It is slipping up her arm--too large by half. I hate to see
daylight between a bracelet and a wrist; I wonder women haven't better
taste.'

'It is not on that account, indeed,' Elfride expostulated. 'It is that
her arm has got thin, poor thing. You cannot think how much she has
altered in this last twelvemonth.'

The carriages were now nearer together, and there was an exchange of
more familiar greetings between the two families. Then the Luxellians
crossed over and drew up under the plane-trees, just in the rear of the
Swancourts. Lord Luxellian alighted, and came forward with a musical
laugh.

It was his attraction as a man. People li