t supper-table presented.

"And she was among them, in a scene like that," he said, as the door
closed after him.

CHAPTER XXI.

ON THE WAY TO HOUGHTON CASTLE.

At the junction of the railroad where Margaret changed cars for London,
a young man, who had just arrived by the train, took the seat left
vacant, and arranged himself comfortably for a protracted journey. Lady
Clara watched him with some interest, and more than once caught a glance
from his fine eyes as they wandered from the pages of his novel and
dwelt upon her own bright face. Clara had been left to her own devices
while preparing for her journey, and the antique attendant who had been
sent to protect her was grievously scandalized by the jaunty little
sailor's hat and double-breasted jacket which she had selected for her
travelling costume. But the woman had been bred to almost abject
subservience, and had no idea of venturing upon spoken criticism or
advice. She was greatly troubled, however, about the impression this
singular costume might produce on her old mistress, and felt really
shocked when she saw the half-puzzled, half-amused expression of their
fellow-passenger's face, as his eyes first encountered the future
countess.

By-and-by the old woman fell into deeper consternation, for she began to
remember that handsome face, in spite of the brown beard that curved
like a bow over the upper lip, and swept down toward his bosom in soft,
silken waves that a child would long to bury its little hands in.

"It is Lord Hilton, the grandson of the old earl," she muttered, in
silent consternation; "and to see her like this, after all the mistress
has been planning, is terrible to think of."

The young man had been so much occupied with the younger and prettier
face that any regard for that of the old servant was impossible; but
after a while his eyes fell on those hard outlines, and he gave a start
of recognition which made the old lady move restlessly in her seat.

"Why, Mrs. Judson, is it possible that I find you so far from home!" he
exclaimed. "What can possibly have come over the old lady that she is
willing to part with you for a journey long or short?"

"My lady is not so well as we were when you left this neighborhood for
foreign parts, my lord. Indeed, I am much afraid you will find her
greatly altered. She is now almost entirely confined to her room."

"I am sorry to hear that. Lady Carset is, after all, an aged woman; but
it woul