ed
himself to shape visions and dream dreams during the last day or two.
It was foolish, as he now saw plainly enough; in ambition, one must
discern the probable, and steady one's course thereby. All at once, he
felt a strong dislike of Lord Dymchurch, and even a certain contempt.
The man was not what he had thought him.

Crossing the street at Piccadilly Circus, he ran before a hansom, and
from the hansom was waved a hand, a voice in the same moment calling
out his name. As a result of his stopping, he was very nearly run over
by another cab; he escaped to the pavement; the hansom pulled up beside
him, and he shook hands with Mrs. Woolstan.

"Are you going anywhere?" she asked, her eyes very wide as they gazed
at him.

"Nowhere in particular."

"Then do come with me, will you? I have to buy a present for Len's
birthday, and I should be so glad of your help in choosing it."

Dyce jumped into the vehicle, and, as his habit was, at once surveyed
himself in the little looking-glass conveniently placed for that
purpose. The inspection never gratified him, and to-day less than
usual. Turning to his companion, he asked:

"Does everybody look ugly in a hansom mirror?"

"What a question! I'm sure I can't tell you."

Iris had coloured a little. Her eyes involuntarily sought the slip of
glass at her side of the seat, and the face she saw was assuredly not a
flattering likeness. With brow knitted, she stared out into the street,
and presently asked:

"Have you seen Lady Ogram?"

"Yes."

"I thought you told me that she would have no one with her but her
secretary? Why did you say that?"

"Because I didn't know that she bed a newly-discovered niece. It seems
that you have heard of it. Perhaps you have met her?"

"Not yet; Mrs. Toplady told me."

"And you take it for granted that I had deliberately concealed the
niece from you?" said Lashmar, with an amused air. "Pray, why should I
have done so?"

"No, no, I thought nothing of the kind," replied Mrs. Woolstan, in a
conciliating tone. "Indeed I didn't! It's only that I felt vexed not to
have heard the story from you first. I thought you would have told it
me as soon as possible--such an interesting thing as that."

Lashmar declared that he had only known of Miss Tomalin's existence for
a day or two, and had only heard the explanation of her appearance this
very day. His companion asked for a description of the young lady, and
he gave one remarkable for splenetic