of bread behind his back, caught it dexterously,
and burst out with:

"See the conquering hero comes! Hurrah! Nell--Nell! Don't run away! Wait
for the congratulations of your devoted brother!"

But Nell had fled to her room, and, on pretense of chivying her, Dick
discreetly withdrew, leaving Drake to the inevitable interview with Mrs.
Lorton.

"I'm sure I don't know what to say," she murmured. "It is so unexpected,
so quite unlooked for. It is like a bolt out of the green----" She meant
blue, but had got the colors mixed. "I had no idea that you had any
serious intentions!"

Then she remembered that she had to play the part of guardian, and
endeavored to fill the role with the dignity due to a lady of her
exalted birth.

"I need not say that I--er--congratulate you, Mr. Vernon. Eleanor is
a--er--dear girl; she has been the comfort and consolation of my life,
and--er--the parting with her will be a great--a very great--trial.
Pardon my emotion!" She snuffed into a handkerchief, and wiped her eyes
with a delicate touch or two. "But I should not dream of standing in the
way of her happiness. No! If she has made her heart's choice, I shall
not attempt to dissuade her. And I feel that she has chosen wisely. Of
course, my dear Mr. Vernon, though we have had the pleasure of your
presence with us for some time, we do not--er--know----"

Drake winced slightly. Should he tell her the truth? Should he say, "My
name's Drake Vernon, right enough, but I happen to be Lord Selbie?"

But he shrank from the avowal, the confession. He knew that it would
call forth quite a torrent of amazement and self-satisfaction; that he
would be asked why he had concealed his full name and rank--and
to-night, of all nights, he felt unequal to the scene which would most
certainly follow the confession.

"I will tell you all--I can," he said, with a pause before the last
words which, fortunately for him, Mrs. Lorton was top excited to notice.
"I'm afraid Nell hasn't made a very wise choice. I'm not worthy of her;
but that goes without saying; no man alive is. But even in the usual
acceptation of the term, I'm not what is called a good match."

Mrs. Lorton looked blank and rather puzzled as she thought of the
diamond bracelet and the three horses.

"I--we--er--imagined that you were well off," she said.

"I've met with reverses lately," said Drake; "and I'm poorer than I was
a--er--little while ago."

Mrs. Lorton drew herself up a little, a