he talked
to his host. As he drove home with his wife that night, however, his
disappointment found vent: 'Never been so taken in in my life,' he
remarked; 'I did think from his book that that young Ernstone and I
would have something in common; but I tried him but got nothing out
of him but rubbish; probably got the whole thing up out of some
British Association speech and forgotten it! I hate your shallow
fellows, and 'pon my word I felt strongly inclined to show him up,
only I didn't care to annoy Langton!'

'I'm glad you didn't, dear,' said his wife; 'I don't think
dinner-parties are good places to show people up in, and really Mr.
Ernstone, or Ashburn, whatever his name is, struck me as being so very
charming--perhaps you expected too much from him.'

'H'm, I shall know better another time,' he said.

But the incident, even as it was, left Mark with an uncomfortable
feeling that his evening had somehow been spoilt, particularly as he
did not succeed in getting any further conversation with Mabel in the
drawing-room afterwards to make him forget the unpleasantness. Vincent
Holroyd's work was still proving itself in some measure an avenger of
his wrongs.

CHAPTER XIX.

DOLLY'S DELIVERANCE.

About a week after the dinner recorded in the last chapter, Mark
repaired to the house in Kensington Park Gardens to call as in duty
bound, though, as he had not been able to find out on what afternoon
he would be sure of finding Mrs. Langton at home, he was obliged to
leave this to chance. He was admitted, however--not by the stately
Champion, but by Colin, who had seen him from the window and hastened
to intercept him.

'Mabel's at home, somewhere,' he said, 'but will you come in and speak
to Dolly first? She's crying awfully about something, and she won't
tell me what. Perhaps she'd tell you. And do come, sir, please; it's
no fun when she's like that, and she's always doing it now!' For Colin
had an unlimited belief, founded as he thought on experience, in the
persuasive powers of his former master.

Mark had his doubts as to the strict propriety of acceding to this
request--at all events until it had been sanctioned by some higher
authority than Colin--but then he remembered Mabel's anxiety on the
night of the dinner; if he could only set this child's mind at ease,
would not that excuse any breach of conventionality--would it not win
a word of gratitude from her sister? He could surely take a little
risk a