seemed to be musing--and not
unpleasantly.

At that moment a motor car passed the window.

"My!" exclaimed Eleanor, "I'd quite forgot! That will be to take the
Honorable Stanley to the station. We must say good-by to him, I suppose."

She turned to the Count and added in explanation--

"The last to apply was the Honorable Stanley Pilkington--Lord Didcott's
heir, you know. Oh, if you could see him, you'd realize what I've had to
go through!"

Even as she spoke he was given the opportunity, for the door somewhat
diffidently opened and an unhappy-looking young man came slowly into
the room. He was clearly to be classified among the round-shouldered
ineligibles; being otherwise a tall and slender youth, with an amiable
expression and a smoothly well-bred voice.

"I've come to say good-by, Miss Maddison," he said, with a mournful air.
"I--I've enjoyed my visit very much," he added, as he timidly shook her
hand.

"So glad you have, Mr. Pilkington," she replied cordially. "It has been
a very great pleasure to entertain you. Our friend Count Bunker--Mr.
Pilkington."

The young man bowed with a look in his eye that clearly said--

"The next candidate, I perceive."

Then having said good-by to Ri, the Count heard him murmur to Eleanor--

"Couldn't you--er--couldn't you just manage to see me off?"

"With very great pleasure!" she replied in a hearty voice that seemed
curiously enough rather to damp than cheer his drooping spirits.

No sooner had they left the room together than Darius, junior, turned
energetically to his guest, and said in a voice ringing with pride--

"You may not believe me, Count, but I assure you that is the third
fellow she has seen to the door inside a fortnight! One Duke, one
Viscount--who will expand into something more considerable some day--and
this Honorable Pilkington! Your friend, sir, will be a fortunate man if
he is able to please my sister."

"She seems, indeed, a charming girl."

"Charming! She is an angel in human form! And I, sir, her brother, will
see to it that she is not deceived in the man she chooses--not if I can
help it!"

The young man said this with such an air as Bunker supposed his
forefathers to have worn when they hurled the tea into Boston harbor.

"I trust that Lord Tulliwuddle, at least, will not fall under your
displeasure, sir," he replied with an air of sincere conviction that
exactly echoed his thoughts.

"Oh, Ri!" cried Eleanor, running back into the