ert, but the countess rose at last, and led the
way to the drawing-room. There, of course, Nell was made much of. Some
of the younger women drew their chairs near her, and showed as plainly
as they could--and how plainly women can show things when they
like!--that they were eager to welcome her into the county's social
circle; and it required no effort on their part, for Nell's charm, which
Drake had found so potent, was irresistible. There was some playing and
singing, and the countess wanted Nell to do one or the other; but she
shook her head.

"Mr. Falconer will want me to play his accompaniments presently," she
said. Not even in this full tide of her happiness did she forget him.

Meanwhile, the men were having a very pleasant time in the dining room.
Drake, like all the Anglefords, was a capital host. Anglemere was famous
for its claret and its port, as we know, and Dick and the other young
men waxed merry; and the duke voiced the general sentiment when, leaning
back in his chair and sipping his claret, he said:

"The gods might be envious of you, Angleford. If I were asked to spot a
happy man, I should pitch upon you. I congratulate you upon your
engagement. She's one of the prettiest and most charming girls I've ever
met. That sounds rather banal, but I mean it. I hope you'll let us see a
great deal of her, for Mary"--Mary was the duchess--"has, I can see,
taken a great fancy to her. And I'm very glad to hear that you intend to
make this your home; at least, so I hear from Styles, who appears to be
in your confidence."

And he laughed.

And Drake laughed.

"Oh, yes, Styles and I are old friends," he said. "We mean to live here
a great deal. I shall keep up the Home farm; they've offered me the
mastership of the hounds, and I think I shall take it. Nell's a capital
horsewoman. In fact, we shall lead a country life most of the time, and
see as much as we can of our people."

"You're right," said the duke emphatically. "It's the best of all lives.
If we all lived on our estates and looked after our people, we should
hear very little of socialism, and such like troubles. It's the
absenteeism which is answerable for most of the mischief."

They discussed county affairs, "horses, hounds, and the land," for some
minutes; then Drake, who was anxious to go to Nell, asked the men if
they would have any more wine, and, receiving a negative, rose, and made
for the drawing-room.

Miss Angel was singing; Dick of cou