al situation of a successful author. It did not so
much as enter his mind, by the way, that there was anything equivocal in
Mrs. Westray's authorship. Her book had failed, and her husband was very
wealthy, so that she could not be suspected of having earned money by
her pen. But Lettice had cheques for _her_ romances!

The dinner was very successful, and the Pynsents were charmed with the
result. "It is a most suitable union," said Sir John, alluding to Nan's
marriage to Sydney Campion, and hoping to crush his wife a little,
seeing that she had objected to it: "it does great credit to my
discernment in bringing them together. I always knew that Campion would
get on. Lord Montagu was very much pleased with him."

"Nan looked lovely," said Lady Pynsent, ignoring her husband's innuendo.
"She tells me that Sydney is very particular about her dress, and she
seems perfectly happy."

Meanwhile, as Sydney and his wife were driving home, Nan nestled up to
him and said coaxingly,

"Now tell me, dear, just what you were thinking of to-night."

"I was thinking that my wife was the most beautiful woman in the room."

"Oh, I did not mean anything of that kind. When you were talking at
dinner-time, and after we had gone up stairs, what was really the
uppermost thought in your mind?"

"Well," said Sydney laughing, "you deserve all my candor, Nan. I was
thinking, if you must know, that I could meet any one of those men in
debate, or in council, and hold my own against him. There's vanity for
you! Now it is your turn."

"Mine?" she said. "Why, it was just the same as your own. That you were
as wise and great as any of them----"

"Ah, I didn't say that."

"--And that when you are a Minister of State, and I threw open my
drawing-room, we will challenge comparison with any other house in
London. Do you like the idea?"

He put his arm round her and kissed her very fondly. She had assimilated
his ambitions to a remarkable degree, and he was as surprised as he was
delighted to find her almost as eager for his success as he himself
could be. The two were by no means destitute of that community of
interests and pursuits which has been said to constitute the best hope
of wedded bliss. But Nan's hopes were less material than Sydney's. It
was as yet a doubtful matter whether he would draw her down from her
high standard, or whether she would succeed in raising him to hers. At
present, satisfied with themselves and with each other, they