moning her timid husband from
some far corner, where he had remained in hiding, took her departure
with much stateliness.

A great many people were going down to supper by this time, but Sir
Philip was tired of the heat and glare and noise, and whispered as much
to Thelma, who at once advanced to bid her hostess farewell.

"Won't you have some supper?" inquired her ladyship. "Don't go yet!"

But Thelma was determined not to detain her husband a moment longer than
he wished--so Lady Winsleigh, seeing remonstrances were of no avail,
bade them both an effusive good-night.

"We must see a great deal of each other!" she said, pressing Thelma's
hands warmly in her own: "I hope we shall be quite dear friends!"

"Thank you!" said Thelma, "I do hope so too, if you wish it so much.
Good-night, Lord Winsleigh!"

"Let me escort you to your carriage," said her noble host, at once
offering her his arm.

"And allow me to follow," added Beau Lovelace, slipping his arm through
Errington's, to whom he whispered, "How dare you, sir! How dare you be
such a provokingly happy man in this miserable old world?" Errington
laughed--and the little group had just reached the door of the
drawing-room when Thelma suddenly turned with a look of inquiry in her
eyes.

"Where is Mr. Lorimer?" she said. "I have forgotten to say good-night to
him, Philip."

"Here I am, Lady Errington," and Lorimer sauntered forward with rather a
forced smile,--a smile which altogether vanished, leaving his face
strangely pale, as she stretched out her hand to him, and said
laughingly--

"You bad Mr. Lorimer! Where were you? You know it would make me quite
unhappy not to wish you good-night. Ah, you are a very naughty brother!"

"Come home with us, George," said Sir Philip eagerly. "Do, there's a
good fellow!"

"I can't, Phil!" answered Lorimer, almost pathetically. "I can't
to-night--indeed, I can't! Don't ask me!" And he wrung his friend's hand
hard,--and then bravely met Thelma's bright glance.

"Forgive me!" he said to her. "I know I ought to have presented myself
before--I'm a dreadfully lazy fellow, you know! Good-night!"

Thelma regarded him steadfastly.

"You look,--what is it you call yourself sometimes--_seedy_?" she
observed. "Not well at all. Mind you come to us to-morrow!"

He promised--and then accompanied them down to their carriage--he and
Beau Lovelace assisting to cover Thelma with her fur cloak, and being
the last to shake hands with