hips.
Too often they have proved to be carefully planned beforehand, with some
sordid object in view. Good heavens, what stories I could tell you!
A lady pursued by a bull--I have risked my life to save her, and have
learned afterwards that the scene had been arranged by the mother as an
effective introduction, and that the bull had been hired by the hour.
But I won't shake your faith in human nature. I have had some rude
shocks myself. I look, perhaps, with a jaundiced eye on all who come
near me. It is the more needful that I should have one whom I can trust
to advise me."

"If you will only show me where my opinion can be of any use I shall be
most happy," said Robert. "My people come from Birmingham, but I know
most of the folk here and their position."

"That is just what I want. Money can do so much good, and it may do so
much harm. I shall consult you when I am in doubt. By the way, there
is one small question which I might ask you now. Can you tell me who
a young lady is with very dark hair, grey eyes, and a finely chiselled
face? She wore a blue dress when I saw her, with astrachan about her
neck and cuffs."

Robert chuckled to himself.

"I know that dress pretty well," he said. "It is my sister Laura whom
you describe."

"Your sister! Really! Why, there is a resemblance, now that my attention
is called to it. I saw her the other day, and wondered who she might be.
She lives with you, of course?"

"Yes; my father, she, and I live together at Elmdene."

"Where I hope to have the pleasure of making their acquaintance. You
have finished your cigar? Have another, or try a pipe. To the real
smoker all is mere trifling save the pipe. I have most brands of tobacco
here. The lockers are filled on the Monday, and on Saturday they are
handed over to the old folk at the alms-houses, so I manage to keep it
pretty fresh always. Well, if you won't take anything else, perhaps you
would care to see one or two of the other effects which I have devised.
On this side is the armoury, and beyond it the library. My collection of
books is a limited one; there are just over the fifty thousand volumes.
But it is to some extent remarkable for quality. I have a Visigoth Bible
of the fifth century, which I rather fancy is unique; there is a 'Biblia
Pauperum' of 1430; a MS. of Genesis done upon mulberry leaves, probably
of the second century; a 'Tristan and Iseult' of the eighth century; and
some hundred black-letters, with five v