ve
to leave Naples to-morrow; we are going to England."

"Indeed? You don't say so! Really, I'm very sorry to hear that, Miss
Denyer."

"I am sorry too--to have to leave Italy for such a climate at this time
of the year." She shuddered. "But my father has just arrived from
Alexandria, and--for family reasons--wishes us to travel on with him."

Mr. Musselwhite seemed to reflect anxiously. He curled his moustaches,
he plucked his whiskers, he looked about the room with wide eyes.

"How lonely it will be at the dinner-table!" he said at length. "So
many have gone of late. But I hoped there was no danger of your going,
Miss Denyer."

"We had no idea of it ourselves till to-day."

A long silence, during which Mr. Musselwhite's reflections grew intense.

"You are going to London?" he asked mechanically.

"Not at first. I hardly know. I think we shall be for some time with
friends at Southampton."

"Indeed? How odd! I also have friends at Southampton. A son of Sir
Edward Mull; he married a niece of mine."

Barbara could have cried with mortification. She muttered she knew not
what. Then again came a blank in the dialogue.

"I trust we may meet again," was Mr. Musselwhite's next sentence. It
cost him an effort; he reddened a little, and moved his feet about.

"There is no foreseeing. I--we--I am sorry to say my father has brought
us rather unpleasant news."

She knew not whether it was a stroke of policy, or grossly imprudent,
to make this confession. But it came to her lips, and she uttered it
half in recklessness. It affected Mr. Musselwhite strangely. His
countenance fell, and a twinge seemed to catch one of his legs; at the
same time it made him fluent.

"I grieve to hear that, Miss Denyer; I grieve indeed. Your departure
would have been bad enough, but I really grieve to think you should
have cause of distress."

"Thank you for your sympathy, Mr. Musselwhite."

"But perhaps we may meet again in England, for all that? Will you
permit me to give you my London address--a--a little club that I belong
to, and where my friends often send letters? I mean that I should be so
very glad if it were ever possible for me to serve you in any trifle.
As you know, I don't keep any--any establishment in England at present;
but possibly--as you say, there is no anticipating the future. I should
be very happy indeed if we chanced to meet, there or abroad."

"You are very kind, Mr. Musselwhite."

"If I might ask you for