d her eyes
stray.

"You know," he pursued, "that I _aim high_."

Her look fell.

"But no man can do without help. The strong man is he who knows how to
choose his helper, and at the right moment. I am at a crisis of my
life, and--it is to you that I turn."

"I of course feel that to be a great compliment, Mr. Lashmar," said
May, recovering her grand air. "I promise you to do what I can. But you
mustn't count on me for impossibilities."

"I count on nothing that isn't easy for _you_--with your character,
your influence."

"Thank you, again. My first piece of advice to you is to win the
election."

"I shall do my best. If I am beaten in this, I shall win another; you
are aware of that. Are you easily discouraged? I think not."

He smiled at her with admiration. That it was genuine, May easily
perceived; how much, or how little, it implied, she did not care to
ask. These two, alike incapable of romantic passion, children of a time
which subdues everything to interest, which fosters vanity and chills
the heart, began to imagine that they were drawn to each other by all
the ardours of youth. Their minds remarkably lucid, reviewing the
situation with coolest perspicuity, calculating each on the other's
recognised weaknesses, and holding themselves absolutely free if
contingency demanded freedom, they indulged, up to a certain point, the
primitive impulse, and would fain have discovered in it a motive of the
soul. May, who had formed her opinion as to Miss Bride's real attitude
regarding Lashmar, took a keen pleasure in the treacherous part she was
playing; she remembered the conversation last evening in the carriage,
and soothed her wounded self-esteem. Dyce, gratified by yet another
proof of his power over womankind, felt that in this case he had
something to be really proud of; Miss Tomalin's beauty and her
prospects spoke to the world at large. She was in love with him, and he
detected in himself a reciprocal emotion. Interesting and agreeable
state of things!

May, instead of directly answering his last question, allowed her eyes
to meet his for a second. Then she said:

"Some people are coming to us this afternoon."

"To stay? Who are they?"

"Sir William and Lady Amys--and Lord Dymchurch--"

"Dymchurch! Lady Ogram has invited him?"

"He would hardly come to stay without being invited," said May, archly.
"But I thought you most likely knew. Didn't Lady Ogram mention it to
you?"

"Not a word," answer