wooing. Very
nervous and confused, she made what seemed to her an appropriate answer.

"Thank you very much, Lord Dymchurch. I had so hoped we could be
friends--simply friends. Do let me think of you still in that way."

"Will you give me a proof of friendship," said the other, smiling
kindly, "by permitting me to tell Lady Ogram, in a note I shall leave
for her, that you have declined my offer of marriage?"

This, thought May, was indeed a smoothing of her difficulties. She
glanced at the speaker with gratitude.

"You will really do that? How generous of you, Lord Dymchurch!"

"Allow me to leave you now, Miss Tomalin. I must prepare for my
journey."

May offered her hand. Dymchurch just perceptibly pressed it, saluted
with the gravest politeness, and walked away.

On the terrace before the house, he encountered Lashmar, who came up to
him with a glowing countenance.

"I hoped I should find you here. Nothing could be better. Just a
moment's talk."

Dyce had thrust out a hand, but as the other appeared not to see it, he
drew it hack again as naturally as he could. Dymchurch stood waiting in
an attitude of cold civility.

"It's rather a delicate matter. Accident has obliged me to speak;
otherwise, I shouldn't, of course, have troubled you with my private
affairs. I wish to tell you that the engagement which once existed
between Miss Bride and myself is at an end."

"I presumed so," was the reply, spoken with unmoved features.

"Also, that Miss Tomalin has for some days been aware of this state of
things."

"I took it for granted."

"So that," Dyce continued, in a stumbling way, "you won't retain any
disagreeable impression from this morning's incident? I am very glad
indeed to have been able to see you at once. It puts an end to a
natural uneasiness on both sides."

"I am obliged to you," said Dymchurch.

With a bow and a look past his interlocutor, he turned to enter the
house.

As soon as he had disappeared, Lashmar followed, and rang the door
bell. Of the servant who came, he asked whether Miss Bride was down
yet. The domestic went to inquire. Waiting in the hall, Dyce heard a
footstep behind him; he turned and saw May, who, with features
discomposed, just met his eyes and hurried away up the staircase. When
the servant returned, it was with a request that Mr. Lashmar would step
into the library. There, in a few minutes, Constance joined him.

"You are early!" she exclaimed. "No bad news, I hop