hing to smile at, only the vacant air and the
prospect of the combe, coming in in a sickly haze which existed only in
her eyes.

But, by good luck, there was Lady Mariamne behind, and the fire of
indignation giving a red flicker upon the desolate hearth.

"I caught Phil on the nose," said that lady, in great triumph; "spoilt
his beauty for him for to-day. But let's hope she won't mind. She thinks
him beautiful, the little goose. Oh, my Puggy-wuggy, did that cruel Algy
pull your little, dear tail, you darling? Come to oos own mammy, now
those silly wedding people are away."

"Your little dog, I presume, is of a very rare sort," said Mr. Tatham,
to be civil. He had proposed the bride and bridegroom's health in a most
appropriate speech, and he felt that he had deserved well of his kind,
which made him more amiable even than usual. "Your ladyship's little
dog," he added, after a moment, as she did not take any notice, "I
presume, is of a rare kind?"

Lady Mariamne gave him a look, or rather a stare. "Is Puggy of a rare
sort?" she said over her shoulder, to one of the attendant tribe.

"Don't be such a duffer, Jew! You know as well as any one what breed
he's of," Harry Compton said.

"Oh, I forgot," said the fine lady. She was standing full in front of
the entrance, keeping Mrs. Dennistoun in the full sun outside. "I hope
there's a train very soon," she said. "Did you look, Algy, as I told
you? If it hadn't been that Phil would have killed me I should have gone
now. It would have been such fun to have spied upon the turtle doves!"

The men thought it would have been rare fun with obedient delight, but
that Phil would have cut up rough, and made a scene. At this Lady
Mariamne held up her finger, and made a portentous face.

"Oh, you naughty, naughty boy," she cried, "telling tales out of
school."

"Perhaps, my dear lady," said Mr. Tatham, quietly, "you would let Mrs.
Dennistoun pass."

"Oh!" said Lady Mariamne, and stared at him again for half a minute;
then she turned and stared at the tall lady in grey satin. "Anybody can
pass," she said: "I'm not so very big."

"That is quite true--quite true. There is plenty of room," said the
little gentleman, holding out his hand to his cousin.

"My dear John," said Mrs. Dennistoun, "I am sure you will be kind enough
to lend your carriage again to Lady Mariamne, who is in a hurry to get
away. There is another train, which stops at Downforth station, in half
an hour, and