h, Mr. Lashmar. He was very amusing. Then I talked with--"

"Wait a minute. Did you only have one talk with Lord Dymchurch?"

"Only one. He doesn't care for 'At Homes.' Mrs. Toplady says he hardly
ever goes anywhere, and she fancies"--May laughed lightly--"that he
came to-night only because _I_ was going to be there. Do you think it
likely, aunt?"

"Why, I don't think it impossible," replied Lady Ogram, in a tone of
relief. "I have known more unlikely things. And suppose it were true?"

"Oh, it's very complimentary, of course."

The old eyes dwelt upon the young face, and with a puzzled expression.
Notwithstanding her own character, it was difficult for Lady Ogram to
imagine that the girl seriously regarded herself as superior to Lord
Dymchurch.

"Perhaps it's more than a compliment," she said, in rather a mumbling
voice; and she added, with an effort to speak distinctly, "I suppose
you didn't tire him with that talk about Old English?"

"Tire him?" May exclaimed. "Way, he was delighted!"

"But he seems to have been satisfied with the one talk."

"Oh, he went away because Mr. Lashmar came up, that was all. He's very
modest; perhaps he thought he oughtn't to prevent me from talking to
other people."

Lady Ogram looked annoyed and worried.

"If I were you, May, I shouldn't talk about Old English next time you
see Lord Dymchurch. Men don't care to find themselves at school in a
drawing-room."

"I assure you, aunt, that is not my only subject of conversation,"
replied May, amused and dignified. "And I'm perfectly certain that it
was just the thing for Lord Dymchurch. He has a serious mind, and I
like him to know that mine is the same."

"That's all right, of course. I dare say you know best what pleases
him. And I think it very probable indeed, May, that he went to Pont
Street just in the hope of meeting you."

"Perhaps so."

May smiled, and seemed to take the thing as very natural; whereupon
Lady Ogram again looked puzzled.

"Well, go to bed, May. I'm very glad Lord Dymchurch was there; very
glad. Go to bed, and sleep as late as you like. I'm glad you've enjoyed
yourself, and I'm very glad Lord Dymchurch was there--very."

The voice had become so senile, so indistinct, that May could hardly
catch what it said. She lightly kissed her aunt's cheek--a ceremony
that passed between them only when decorum seemed to demand it--and
left the room.

On the following morning, Dyce Lashmar received a telegram, c