, Mr. Wrybolt's responsibility came to an
end, a circumstance very pleasing to Lashmar. When the schoolboy
interrupted them, their conversation was by no means finished. After a
cheerful lunch, they resumed it on the sea-shore, Leonard being sent
off to amuse himself as he would. By tea-time, it had been agreed that
Lashmar should at once give up his expensive London rooms, and come
down to Eastbourne, to recruit his health and enjoy Iris's society,
until Leonard went back to school. The house at West Hampstead should
be their home for the first twelvemonth; by that time they would see
how things were going, and be able to make plans. Early in the evening,
Lashmar took a train for town.

At his lodgings he found several letters; two of them were important.
Constance Bride's handwriting indicated the envelope to be first torn
open. She wrote concisely and with her usual clearness. The ill news
from Hollingford had been a grief to her, but it was very satisfactory
to see that Lashmar had reduced the Conservative majority. "You have
gained some very useful experience, which I hope you may before long
have an opportunity of using. Please send me a statement of the
election expenses as soon as you can; you remember the understanding
between us in that matter. I am soon leaving England for a few weeks,
but a letter directed as above will always reach me." The address
referred to was that of a well-known Society for Social Reform in the
west of London.

His hand tremulous with the anger which this curt epistle had excited,
Lashmar broke an envelope on the flap of which was printed in red
letters the Pont Street address so familiar to him. Mrs. Toplady wrote
more at length; she took the trouble to express her disappointment at
the result of the Hollingford election in courteously rounded
terms--"Our dear old friend of Rivenoak would have found some apt
phrase to describe such a man as Butterworth. Wasn't she good at that
kind of thing! How I have laughed to hear her talk of the late lamented
Robb! You have the satisfaction of knowing that you got more votes than
any Liberal has done at Hollingford for many years so the papers tell
me. In fact, you have made a very good start indeed, and I am sure the
eye of the party will be on you."

Lashmar glowed. He had not expected such words from Mrs. Toplady. After
all, Iris had given him good advice. Who knew but this woman might be
more useful to him than Lady Ogram had been?

"Do