swearing eternal friendship----"
said Sir Tom.

Jock did not know what to do with himself. He began by stumbling over
Lady Randolph's train, which though carefully coiled about her, was so
long and so substantial that it got in his way. In getting out of its
way he almost stumbled against the slim, straight figure of the girl,
who stood behind surveying the company. She met his awkward apology with
a smile. "It doesn't matter," she said, "I am so glad you are come. I
had nobody to talk to." Then she made a little pause, regarding him with
a bright, impartial look, as if weighing all his qualities. "Don't you
talk?" she said. "Do you prefer not to say anything? because I know how
to behave: I will not trouble you if it is so. In England there are some
who do not say anything?" she added with an inquiring look. Jock, who
was conscious of blushing all over from top to toe, ventured a glance at
her, to which she replied by a peal of laughter, very merry but very
subdued, in which, in spite of himself, he was obliged to join.

"So you can laugh!" she said; "oh, that is well; for otherwise I should
not know how to live. We must laugh low, not to make any noise and
distract the old ones; but still, one must live. Tell me, you are the
brother of Madame--Should I say Milady? In my novels they never do, but
I do not know if the novels are just or not."

"The servants say my lady, but no one else," said Jock.

"How fine that is," the young lady said admiringly, "in a moment to have
it all put right. I am glad we came to England; we say mi-ladi and
mi-lord as if that was the name of every one here; but it is not so in
the books. You are, perhaps Sir? like Sir Tom--or you are----"

"I am Trevor, that is all," said Jock with a blush; "I am nobody in
particular: that is, here"--he added with a momentary gleam of natural
importance.

"Ah!" cried the young lady, "I understand--you are a great person at
home."

Jock had no wish to deceive, but he could not prevent a smile from
creeping about the corners of his mouth. "Not a great person at all," he
said, not wishing to boast.

The young stranger, who was so curious about all her new surroundings,
formed her own conclusion. She had been brought up in an atmosphere full
of much knowledge, but also of theories which were but partially
tenable. She interpreted Jock according to her own ideas, which were not
at all suited to his case; but it was impossible that she could know
that.