l waiting in the hall.

"I wish it were finer my dear" said Mr. Earlsdown opening a large
unbrella manfully.

Mr. Earlsdown was an elderly man between 50 and 60, he had iron grey
hair and a long bushy beard to corrospond, sharp grey eyes and a would
be handsome face but for a stern forbidding expression it habitually
wore. He was broad and stout and had a manfull way of carelessly
swinging his arms that gave him many friends. Not only this but he had a
loud hearty voice that he knew how to use with a will.

Here Mr. Earlsdown proceeded to turn up his trouser tips and offering
his large umbrella to his niece cried in his hearty voice "let us brave
the storm."

Just then a gust of wind blew Sylvia's dainty toque down a side street.
"Oh uncle" she gasped dropping the gingham in her dismay "do go and
fetch it," but ere she uttered the words a tall handsome fellow
approached bearing his head and displaying the lost hat in his hand.

"Oh thank you" cried Sylvia a beautiful blush mounting her fair cheeks
"I am so very grateful to you."

"I am afraid it is rather dusty" said the newcomer taking out a lovely
silk hankerchief and preparing to wipe the charming object

"Don't trouble sir" said Mr. Earlsdown and taking out a large red
kerchief he seized the hat in his huge hand and pounded it vigorously.
"Oh uncle gently" cried Sylvia "you will spoil my feathers

"I know what I am about my dear" said Mr. Earlsdown "and you sir come
and see us to-morrow, my child will be glad of a caller."

"Oh indeed I shall" cried Sylvia blushing.

And Leslie Woodcock, for that was the handsome fellows name raised his
hat and bowed low saying "I shall be delighted my dear sir, but might I
ask what your address is.

"Certainly my man" exclaimed Mr. Earlsdown as with a hearty laugh he
produced a little card on which was written

R. EARLSDOWN ESQ,
Yellowflower Hall
Mayfield Sussex

Leslie bowed once more and taking the card moved gently away. What took
place after this will be reserved for our next chapter.

CHAPTER 2

LESLIE WOODCOCK

The hero of my story I will now describe.

Leslie Woodcock was about 6 feet in his stockings and fine and well
built. He had very dark brown hair neatly parted at one side, a curly
moustache of the same shade and deep brown eyes always half shut. He had
a large str