"Yes, indeed," said Mary.

Lady Tancred awaited her son in the small front morning-room. She was
quite as much a specimen of an English aristocrat as he was, with her
brushed-back, gray hair, and her beautiful, hard, fine-featured face.
She was supremely dignified, and dressed well and with care. She had
been brought up in the school which taught the repression of all
emotion--now, alas! rapidly passing away--so that she did not even tap
her foot from the impatience which was devouring her, and it was nearly
eleven o'clock before Tristram made his appearance!

He apologized charmingly, and kissed her cheek. His horse, Satan, had
been particularly fresh, and he had been obliged to give him an extra
canter twice round the Row, before coming in, and was breakfast
ready?--as he was extremely hungry! Yes, breakfast was ready, and they
went into the dining-room where the old butler awaited them.

"Give me everything, Michelham," said his lordship, "I am ravenous. Then
you can go. Her ladyship will pour out the coffee."

The old servant beamed upon him, with a "glad to see your lordship's
well!" and, surrounding his plate with hot, covered, silver dishes,
quietly made his exit, and so they were alone.

Lady Tancred beamed upon her son, too. She could not help it. He looked
so completely what he ought to look, she thought--magnificently healthy
and handsome, and perfectly groomed. No mother could help being proud of
him.

"Tristram, dear boy, now tell me all about it," she said.

"There is hardly anything to tell you, Mother, except that I am going to
be married about the 25th of October--and--you will be awfully nice to
her--to Zara--won't you?" He had taken the precaution to send round a
note, early in the morning, to Francis Markrute, asking for his lady's
full name, as he wished to tell his family; so the "Zara" came out quite
naturally! "She is rather a peculiar person, and--er--has very stiff
manners. You may not like her at first."

"No, dear?" said Lady Tancred hesitatingly, "Stiff manners you say? That
at least is on the right side. I always deplore the modern
free-and-easy-ness."

"Oh, there is nothing free-and-easy about her!" said Tristram, helping
himself to a cutlet, while he smiled almost grimly. His sense of humor
was highly aroused oven the whole thing; only that overmastering
something which drew him was even stronger than this.

Then he felt that there was no use in allowing his mother to drag