d a few little dinners since mamma left us, chiefly
Phil's business friends. I would not have them while she was with
us--that is to say, to be honest," cried Elinor, "while we were with
her: which of course was the real state of the case. I myself don't like
those people, John, but they would have been insupportable to mamma. It
was for her sake----"

"I understand," he said.

"Oh, but you must not say 'I understand' with that air of knowing a
great deal more than there is to understand," she said, with heat.
"Mamma said it would do me much more good to go--home for a night now
and then and sleep in the fresh air than for her to stay; and though I
think she is a little insane on the subject of my health, still it was
certainly better than that she should stay here, making herself
wretched, her rest broken, and all that. You know we keep such late
hours."

"I should not have thought she would have minded that."

"But what would you have thought of me if I did not mind it for her?
There, John, do you see they are all going? Ah, the pictures! I wish I
could have stayed with you and gone round the rooms. But it must not be
to-night. Come and see me!" she said, turning round to him with a smile,
and holding out her hand.

"I would gladly, Elinor--but should not I find myself in the way of your
fine friends like----"

He had not the heart to finish the sentence when he met her eyes
brimming full of tears.

"Not my fine friends, but my coarse friends," she said; "not friends at
all, our worst enemies, I am sure."

"Nell!" cried Lady Mariamne, in her shrill voice.

"You will come and see me, John?"

"Yes," he said, "and in the meantime I will take you down-stairs, let
your companions think as they please."

It proved when he did so that John had to escort both ladies to the
carriage, which it was not very easy to find, no other cavalier being at
hand for the moment; and that Lady Mariamne invited him to accompany
them to their next stage. "You know the Durfords, of course. You are
going there? What luck for us, Nell! Jump in, Mr. Tatham, we will take
you on."

"Unfortunately Lady Durford has not taken the trouble to invite me,"
said John.

"What does that matter? Jump in, all the same, she'll be delighted to
see you, and as for not asking you, when you are with me and Nell----"

But John turned a deaf ear to this siren's song.

He went to Curzon Street a little while after to call, as he had been
invited t