and he rode in
mechanically, asking if any of them were at home. The judge and Mr.
Augustus were gone up to London, but my lady and the other ladies
were in the house. Mr. Graham had not gone, the woman said in answer
to his question; nor did she know when he was going. And then, armed
with this information, Peregrine Orme rode round to the stables, and
gave up his horse to a groom.

"Yes, Lady Staveley was at home," the servant said at the door.
"Would Mr. Orme walk into the drawing-room, where he would find the
young ladies?" But Mr. Orme would not do this. He would go into a
small book-room with which he was well acquainted, and have his name
taken up to Lady Staveley. "He did not," he said, "mean to stay very
long; but particularly wished to see Lady Staveley." In a few minutes
Lady Staveley came to him, radiant with her sweetest smile, and with
both her hands held out to greet him.

"My dear Mr. Orme," she said, "I am delighted to see you; but what
made you run away from us so suddenly?" She had considered her words
in that moment as she came across the hall, and had thought that in
this way she might best enable him to speak.

"Lady Staveley," he said, "I have come here on purpose to tell you.
Has your daughter told you anything?"

"Who--Madeline?"

"Yes, Madeline. I mean Miss Staveley. Has she said anything to you
about me?"

"Well; yes, she has. Will you not sit down, Mr. Orme, and then
we shall be more comfortable." Hitherto he had stood up, and had
blurted out his words with a sudden, determined, and almost ferocious
air,--as though he were going to demand the girl's hand, and
challenge all the household if it were refused him. But Lady Staveley
understood his manner and his nature, and liked him almost the better
for his abruptness.

"She has spoken to me, Mr. Orme; she has told me of what passed
between you on the last day that you were with us."

"And yet you are surprised that I should have gone! I wonder at that,
Lady Staveley. You must have known--"

"Well; perhaps I did know; but sit down, Mr. Orme. I won't let you
get up in that restless way, if we are to talk together. Tell me
frankly; what is it you think that I can do for you?"

"I don't suppose you can do anything;--but I thought I would come
over and speak to you. I don't suppose I've any chance?" He had
seated himself far back on a sofa, and was holding his hat between
his knees, with his eyes fixed on the ground; but as he spoke t