nted to say, behold!
here they were at Preston Park.

"You are at least remaining over until to-morrow?" Lady Cunyngham asked
him.

"Well, no," said he, "I did not think of coming down until this morning,
and so I had made no arrangements. I should think it hardly likely there
would be a vacant bedroom at the Orleans Club at this time of year--no,
in any case, I must get back by the 8.40 to-night."

"And in the meantime," she asked again, "have you any engagement?"

"None. I dare say I shall have a stroll along the sea-front, and then
drop in for lunch at the Orleans."

"You might as well come down now and lunch with us," said she, simply.

Lionel's face brightened up amazingly; he had been looking forward to
saying good-bye at the station with anything but joy.

"I should be delighted--if I am not in the way," was his prompt answer.

"Oh, Honnor and I are entirely by ourselves at present," said this
elderly lady with the silver-white hair. "We are expecting Lady Adela
and her sisters this week, however; and perhaps my son will come down
later on."

"Are they back from Scotland?"

"They arrive to-morrow, I believe."

"And Lady Adela's novel?"

"Oh, I don't know anything about that," said she, with a good-humored
smile. "Surely she can't have written another novel already!"

When they got into the station, a footman was awaiting them, but they
had no bags or baggage of any description; they walked a little way
along the platform and entered the carriage; presently they were driving
away down to the sea-front. What Honnor Cunyngham thought of the
arrangement, it is impossible to say, but the invitation was none of her
giving: no doubt it was merely a little compliment in acknowledgment of
Mr. Moore's kindness of the preceding night. However, when the barouche
pulled up in front of a house in Adelaide Crescent, Mr. Moore had his
own proposal to make.

"It seems so pleasant down there," said he, looking towards the wide
stretches of greensward and the promenade along the sea-wall, where the
people, just come out of church, were strolling to and fro; "every one
appears to be out--don't you think we should have a little walk before
going in?"

Honnor Cunyngham said nothing; it was her mother who at once and
good-naturedly assented; and when they had descended from the carriage
they forthwith made their way down to mix in this idle throng. It was
quite a bright and pleasant morning here--a stiff southwesterl