impatient adieu as Mr. Gallantry's long, loose figure bowed before her.

Constance Bride had left the room for a moment; she returned with a
thin pamphlet in her hand, which, after taking leave of Mr. and Mrs.
Gallantry, she silently offered to Lashmar.

"Ah, this is the Report," said Dyce. "Many thanks."

He stood rustling the leaves with an air of much interest. On turning
towards his hostess, about to utter some complimentary remark, he saw
that Lady Ogram was sitting with her head bent forward and her eyes
closed; but for the position of her hands, each grasping an arm of the
chair, one would have imagined that she had fallen asleep. Dyce glanced
at Constance, who had resumed her seat, and was watching the old lady.
A minute passed in complete silence, then Lady Ogram gave a start,
recovered herself, and fixed her look upon the visitor.

"How old are you?" she asked, in a voice which had become less
distinct, as if through fatigue.

"Seven and twenty, Lady Ogram."

"And your father is a clergyman?"

"My father is vicar of Alverholme, in Northamptonshire."

She added a few short, sharp questions, concerning his family and his
education, which Dyce answered succinctly.

"Would you like to see something of Rivenoak? If so, Miss Bride will
show you about."

"With pleasure," replied the young man.

"Very well. You lunch with us to-morrow. Be at the mill at eleven
o'clock."

She held out her skeleton hand, and Dyce took it respectfully. Then
Constance and he withdrew.

"This, as you see, is the library," said his companion, when they had
passed into the adjoining room. "The books were mostly collected by Sir
Spencer Ogram, father of the late baronet; he bought Rivenoak, and laid
out the grounds. That is his portrait--the painter has been forgotten."

Dyce let his eyes wander, but paid Tittle attention to what he saw. His
guide was speaking in a dry, uninterested voice, she, too, seeming to
have her thoughts elsewhere. They went out into the hall, looked into
one or two other rooms, and began to ascend the stairs.

"There's nothing of interest above," said Constance, "except the view
from the top of the house. But Lady Ogram would like you to see that,
no doubt."

Observing Constance as she went before him, Dyce was struck with a new
dignity in her bearing. Notwithstanding her subordinate position at
Rivenoak, and the unceremonious way in which Lady Ogram exercised
authority over her, Constance showed