as most
cordial," continued Hugh, ruefully, "and said what a pleasure it was to
him to meet any one who was interested in intellectual subjects. I
suppose he was referring to my platitudes. He said living in the country
cut him off almost entirely from the society of his mental equals, so
much so that at times he had thoughts of moving to London and making a
little centre for intellectual society. According to him the whole
neighborhood was sunk in a state of hopeless apathy, with the exception
of Mrs. Loftus. He said she was the only really clever, cultivated
person in Middleshire."

"Did he? How about the Bishop of Southminster?"

"He did not mention him. My acquaintance with Mrs. Loftus is of the
slightest," added Hugh, interrogatively, looking at his graceful,
animated hostess.

"I imagined you knew her fairly well, as you are staying here."

"No. She asked me rather late in the day. I fancy I was a 'fill up.' I
accepted in the hope, rather a vague one, that I might meet you here."

To Rachel's surprise her heart actually paid Hugh the compliment of
beating a shade faster than its wont. She looked straight in front of
her, and her absent eyes fell on Mr. Tristram sitting opposite, talking
somewhat sulkily to Miss Barker. Rachel looked steadily at him.

Mr. Tristram had been handsome once, and four years had altered him but
little in that respect. He had not yet grown stout, but it was evident
that Nature had that injury in reserve for him. To grow stout is not
necessarily to look common, but if there is an element of inherent
commonness in man or woman, a very little additional surface will make
it manifest, as an enlarged photograph magnifies its own defects. The
"little more and how much it is" had come upon the unhappy Tristram,
once the slimmest of the slim. Life had evidently not gone too well with
him. Self-pity and the harassed look which comes of annoyance with
trifles had set their mark upon him. His art had not taken possession of
him. "High hopes faint on a warm hearthstone." But they sometimes faint
also in bachelor lodgings. The whole effect of the man was second-rate,
mentally, morally, socially. He seemed exactly on a par with the
second-rate friends with whom Sybell loved to surround herself. Hugh and
Dick were taking their revenge on the rival who blocked their way.
Whatever their faults might be, they were gentlemen, and Mr. Tristram
was only "a perfect gentleman." Rachel had not known the di