the foot
of the stairs, and returned to his chamber, where Hankes was still
packing up his papers. "On second thoughts, Hankes, I believe I had
better tell you now," said he. "Sit down."

And they both eat down at the table, end never moved from it for an
hour. Twice--even thrice--there cane messages from below, requesting
Mr. Dunn's presence at the breakfast-table, but a hurried "Yes,
immediately," was his reply, and he came not.

At last they rose? Hankes the first, saying, as he looked at his watch,
"I shall just be in time. It is a great idea, a very great idea indeed,
and does you infinite credit."

"It ought to have success, Hankes," said he, calmly.

"Ought, Sir! It will succeed. It is as fine a piece of tactics as I ever
heard of. Trust me to carry it out, that's all."

"Remember, Hankes, time is everything. Goodby!"

CHAPTER XLI. "A COUNTRY WALK"

What a charming day was that at the Hermitage,--every one pleased,
happy, and good-humored! With a frankness that gave universal
satisfaction, Mr. Dunn declared he could not tear himself away.
Engagements the most pressing, business appointments of the deepest
moment, awaited him on every side, but, "No matter what it cost," said
he, "I will have my holiday!" Few flatteries are more successful than
those little appeals to the charms and fascinations of a quiet home
circle; and when some hard-worked man of the world, some eminent leader
at the Bar, or some much-sought physician condescends to tell us that
the world of clients must wait while he lingers in our society, the
assurance never fails to be pleasing. It is, indeed, complimentary to
feel that we are, in all the easy indolence of leisure, enjoying
the hours of one whose minutes are valued as guineas; our own value
insensibly rises at the thought, and we associate ourselves in our
estimate of the great man. When Mr. Davenport Dunn had made this
graceful declaration, he added another, not less gratifying, that he was
completely at his Lordship's and Lady Augusta's orders, as regarded the
great project on which they desired to have his opinion.

"The best way is to come down and see the spot yourself, Dunn. We 'll
walk over there together, and Augusta will acquaint you with our notions
as we go along."

"I ought to mention," said Dunn, "that yesterday, by the merest chance,
I had the opportunity of looking over a little sketch of your project."

"Oh, Miss Kellett's!" broke in Lady Augusta, colorin