opers with their niece. It was, of course, the best barge
in the best position. Falloden remembered how at the Vice-Chancellor's
party Sorell had hovered about Constance, assuming a kind of mild
guardianship; until he himself had carried her off. Why? What on earth
had she to do with Sorell? Well, he must find out. Meanwhile, she
clearly did not intend to take any further notice of his neighbourhood.
Sorell and Radowitz absorbed her. They were evidently explaining the
races to her, and she stood between them, a docile and charming vision,
turning her graceful head from side to side. Falloden and his party
crossed her actual line of sight. But she took no further notice; and
he heard her laugh at something Radowitz was saying.

"Oh, Mr. Falloden, is that you--and Lady Laura! This is a pleasure!"

He turned to see a lady whom he cordially detested--a head's wife, who
happened to be an "Honourable," the daughter of a small peer, and
terribly conscious of the fact. She might have reigned in Oxford; she
preferred to be a much snubbed dependent of London, and the smart people
whose invitations she took such infinite trouble to get. For she was
possessed of two daughters, tall and handsome girls, who were an
obsession to her, an irritation to other people, and a cause of blushing
to themselves. Her instinct for all men of family or title to be found
among the undergraduates was amazingly extensive and acute; and she had
paid much court to Falloden, as the prospective heir to a marquisate. He
had hitherto treated her with scant attention, but she was not easily
abashed, and she fastened at once on Lady Laura, whom she had seen once
at a London ball.

"Where are you going, Lady Laura? To Marmion? Oh, no! Come on to our
barge, you will see so much better, and save yourself another dusty bit
of walk. Here we are!"

And she waved her parasol gaily towards a barge immediately ahead,
belonging to one of the more important colleges. Lady Laura looked
doubtfully at her son.

Falloden suddenly accepted, and with the utmost cordiality.

"That's really very good of you, Mrs. Manson! I shall certainly advise
my mother to take advantage of your kind offer. But you can't do with
all of us!" He pointed smiling to Trix and Roger.

"Of course I can! The more the merrier!" And the lively lady stooped,
laid an affectionate hand on Roger's shoulder, and said in a stage
aside--"Our ices are very good!"

Roger hastily retreated.

*