go to Monte Carlo, which is a
beautiful place, and where there is the best music in the world, besides
the gambling. I should like even to see the gambling once in a way,
for the fun of the thing. You don't frighten me at all. I have been a
fortnight at Lady Mariamne's, and the continual 'go' was delightful;
there was never a dull moment. As for expedients to raise money,
_there_----"

"To be sure--old Prestwich is as rich as Croesus--or was," said John,
with significance, "but you are not going to live with Lady Mariamne, I
suppose."

"Oh, John!" she cried, "oh, John!" suddenly seizing him by the arm,
clasping her hands on it in the pretty way of earnestness she had,
though one hand held her parasol, which was inconvenient. The soft face
was suffused with rosy colour, so different from the angry red, the
flush of love and tenderness--her eyes swam in liquid light, looking up
with mingled happiness and entreaty to John's face. "Fancy what he says,
that he will not object to come here for half the year to let me be with
my mother! Remember what he is, a man of fashion, and fond of the world,
and of going out and all that. He has consented to come, nay, he almost
offered to come for six months in the year to be with mamma."

"Good heavens," cried John to himself, "he must indeed be down on his
luck!" but what he said was, "Does your mother know of this, Elinor?"

"I have not told her yet. I have reserved it to hear first what you had
to say: and so far as I can make out you have nothing at all to say,
only general things, disapproval in the general. What should you say if
I told you that he disapproves too? He said himself that there had been
too much of all that--that he had backed something--isn't that what you
say?--backed it at odds, and stood to win what he calls a pot of money.
But after that was decided--for he said he could not be off bets that
were made--never any more. Now that I know you have nothing more to say
my heart is free, and I can tell you. He has never really liked that
sort of life, but was led into it when he was very young. And now as
soon as--we are together, you know"--she looked so bright, so sweet in
the happiness of her love, that John could have flung her from his arms,
and felt that she insulted him by that clinging hold--"he means to turn
entirely to serious things, and to go into politics, John."

"Oh, he is going into politics!"

"Of course, on the people's side--to do everything f