s to cheeks.

"Thank heaven, I came up!" said Captain Guest to himself.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

Cornelia was surprised to find that her friends were not already housed
at the Ritz, but had been staying at a private hotel, in a dull side
street, where the cab called on the way from the station, to take up a
pile of luggage lying ready packed in the hall.

"The fashionable hotels are all crowded out in the season," Mrs Moffatt
explained. "We've had our names down for ages at the Ritz, but it was
impossible to get in before to-day. I don't know as we should have
managed even now, if it hadn't been for you, dear. It worked wonders
when we said you would be one of the party. You don't mind having your
name mentioned, do you? You've just got to play up to these managers,
if you don't want to be put off for ever, or poked away in a back room."

"Oh, I don't mind," said Cornelia, easily. "If my name is of any use,
use it for all you're worth. I shouldn't have supposed anyone would
know it over here. They don't in Norton."

"My dear, the hotel is crammed full of Americans, and any one of them
would say it was poor business to refuse the daughter of Edward B
Briskett. The connection might be worth a heap, if you went home and
allowed you were satisfied. Silas don't count for anything--he's no
push! We might have waited for ever if it had been left to him!"

To judge by the hangdog expression of the said Silas as he came forward
to greet his guest at the door of the Ritz, the success attending his
wife's manoeuvres had not inspired him with any particular joy.
Cornelia thought he looked more henpecked than ever, but he received her
warmly, and hovered round to assist with the smaller impedimenta, while
his wife hurried forward into the hotel. Inside all was brightness and
gaiety; little parties of visitors grouped here and there about the
large, light hall; obsequious clerks bowing before one, hoping that the
rooms reserved might give satisfaction; begging to be informed if any
comfort were lacking; summoning waiters to show the way to the lift.
Cornelia was annoyed to notice that most of these attentions were
directed towards herself, but as Mrs Moffatt did not appear to take
umbrage, it seemed wisest to make no protest. The mistake was not
likely to occur again, for with so many guests in the house, individual
attention could not extend beyond the arrival civilities.

Tea was served in the Empire suite, which