across-country to you. It is most
unpardonable conduct, but I have always abused your friendship."

The master of Surrenden cannot find words of welcome warm enough to
satisfy himself. He is honestly delighted. Failing Dulcia Waverley,
nobody could have been so agreeable to him as Brandolin. For once a
proverb is justified, "a self-invited guest is thrice welcome." He is
for dragging his visitor in at once to breakfast, but Brandolin resists.
He has breakfasted on board his yacht; he could not eat again before
luncheon; he likes the open air, he wishes to sit in the periwig and
smoke.

"Do not let us disturb Lady Usk," he said. "I know chatelaines in the
country have a thousand and one things to do before luncheon, and I know
your house is full from gable to cellar."

"It will be by night," says the master of Surrenden, with disgust, "and
not a decent soul among 'em all."

"That is very sad for you," says Brandolin, with a twinkle in his
handsome eyes. He is not a handsome man, but he has beautiful eyes, a
patrician profile, and a look of extreme distinction; his expression is
a little cynical, but more amused; he is about forty years old, but
looks younger. He is not married, having by some miracle of good
fortune, or of personal dexterity, contrived to elude all the efforts
made for his capture. His barony is one of the oldest in England, and he
would not exchange it, were it possible, for a dukedom.

"Since when have you been so in love with decency, George?" he asks,
gravely.

Lord Usk laughs. "Well, you know I think one's own house should be
proper."

"No doubt," says Lord Brandolin, still more gravely. "To do one's
morality vicariously is always so agreeable. Is Lady Waverley not here?
She would save a hundred Sodoms, with a dozen Gomorrahs thrown in
gratis."

"I thought you were in India," says his host, who does not care to
pursue the subject of Lady Waverley's saintly qualifications for the
salvation of cities or men.

"I went to India, but it bored me. I liked it when I was twenty-four;
one likes so many things when one is twenty-four,--even champagne and a
cotillion. How's Boom?"

"Very well; gone to his cousins' in Suffolk. Sure you won't have
something to eat? They can bring it here in a minute if you like
out-of-doors best."

"Quite sure, thanks. What a lovely place this is! I haven't seen it for
years. I don't think there's another garden so beautiful in all England.
After the great dust-