troll in Kensington Gardens, and
occasionally to the park, where he always sat down in the place where
Bessie had sat in her faded linen when he drove by with Blanche. Once
only he joined the crowd on Saturday afternoon, and saw the _elite_ go
by, the princess with her children, the dukes and duchesses, the lords
and ladies, and lastly Lady Blanche Paxton, who rode alone in her glory.

The man, who was almost an imbecile when she married him, was an idiot
now, and had a keeper to look after him, and on Blanche's face there was
an expression of _ennui_ and discontent which told Neil that she was
scarcely happier than himself, even with her hundreds of thousands and
her home on Grosvenor Square.

It was about this time that Neil received a most cordial letter from
Grey and Bessie, urging him to spend the summer with them in Allington,
and to stay as much longer as he pleased.

"Always, if you will, for our home is yours," Bessie wrote; and after a
severe conflict with his love and his pride, Neil accepted the
invitation, and left England with a feeling that he might never see it
again.

The voyage was a rough one, and as he was sick all the way, he had
scarcely strength to stand when he reached Allington, and only
excitement and sheer will kept him up until he found himself in the
cool, pretty room which had been prepared for him, and which it seemed
to him he could never leave again.

Just as the twilight was beginning to fall, Miss Betsey drove up the
avenue, stiff, straight, and severe, in her best black silk and white
India shawl, which she only wore on rare occasions. Why she wore them
now, she hardly knew, and she had hesitated a little before deciding to
do so.

"I do not want the dude to think me a scarecrow," she said to herself;
"though who cares what he thinks? I did not favor his coming, and they
know it. I told them they would have him on their hands for life, and
Bessie actually said they might have a worse thing. I don't know about
that, but I do know he will not sit down upon _me_."

From this it will be seen that Miss Betsey's attitude toward the young
man was anything but friendly, as she started to make her first call
upon him.

"Didn't come down to dinner? I don't like that. He will be having all
his meals in his room, first you will know. Better begin as you can hold
out," she said, sharply, and Bessie replied, with tears in her eyes:

"Oh, auntie, don't be so hard upon poor Neil. You do no