ng
glories of a life, or all pursuit of them be valueless!" May I--dare I
hope?'

'This is Lebanon,' said she; 'at least I think so'; and she held her glass
to her eye. 'Strange caprice, wasn't it, to call her house Lebanon because
of those wretched cedars? Aunt Jerningham is so odd!'

'There is a crowd of carriages here,' said Atlee, endeavouring to speak
with unconcern.

'It is her day; she likes to receive on Sundays, as she says she escapes
the bishops. By the way, did you tell me you were an old friend of hers, or
did I dream it?'

'I'm afraid it was the vision revealed it?'

'Because, if so, I must not take you in. She has a rule against all
presentations on Sundays--they are only her intimates she receives on that
day. We shall have to return as we came.'

'Not for worlds. Pray let me not prove an embarrassment. You can make your
visit, and I will go back on foot. Indeed, I should like a walk.'

'On no account! Take the carriage, and send it back for me. I shall remain
here till afternoon tea.'

'Thanks, but I hold to my walk.'

'It is a charming day, and I'm sure a walk will be delightful.'

'Am I to suppose, Lady Maude,' said he, in a low voice, as he assisted her
to alight, 'that you will deign me a more formal answer at another time to
the words I ventured to address you? May I live in the hope that I shall
yet regard this day as the most fortunate of my life?'

'It is wonderful weather for November--an English November, too. Pray let
me assure you that you need not make yourself uneasy about what you were
speaking of. I shall not mention it to any one, least of all to "my lord";
and as for myself, it shall be as completely forgotten as though it had
never been uttered.'

And she held out her hand with a sort of cordial frankness that actually
said, 'There, you are forgiven! Is there any record of generosity like
this?'

Atlee bowed low and resignedly over that gloved hand, which he felt he was
touching for the last time, and turned away with a rush of thoughts through
his brain, in which certainly the pleasantest were not the predominating
ones.

He did not dine that day at Bruton Street, and only returned about ten
o'clock, when he knew he should find Lord Danesbury in his study.

'I have determined, my lord,' said he, with somewhat of decision in his
tone that savoured of a challenge, 'to go over to Ireland by the morning
mail.'

Too much engrossed by his own thoughts to notice the oth