e easiest, most good-natured man in the world. Don't you think you
might as well speak to him?" Who was Mrs. Montacute Jones that she
should talk to him in this way? "I would send a telegram if I were you,
to say I would be there to-night."

"Perhaps it would be best," said Lord Giblet.

"Oh, certainly. Now mind, we expect you to dinner on the 27th. Is there
anybody else you'd specially like me to ask?"

"Nobody in particular, thank ye."

"Isn't Jack De Baron a friend of yours?"

"Yes,--I like Jack pretty well. He thinks a great deal of himself, you
know."

"All the young men do that now. At any rate I'll ask Jack to meet you."
Unfortunately for Lord Giblet Jack appeared in sight at this very
moment. "Captain De Baron, Lord Giblet has been good enough to say that
he'll come to my little place at Killancodlem on the 27th. Can you meet
him there?"

"Delighted, Mrs. Jones. Who ever refuses to go to Killancodlem?"

"It isn't Killancodlem and its little comforts that are bringing his
lordship. We shall be delighted to see him; but he is coming to
see----. Well I suppose it's no secret now, Lord Giblet?" Jack bowed
his congratulations, and Lord Giblet again blushed as red as a rose.

Detestable old woman! Whither should he take himself? In what furthest
part of the Rocky Mountains should he spend the coming autumn? If
neither Mr. nor Mrs. Green called upon him for an explanation, what
possible right could this abominable old harpy have to prey upon him?
Just at the end of a cotillon he had said one word! He knew men who had
done ten times as much and had not been as severely handled. And he was
sure that Jack De Baron had had something to do with it. Jack had been
hand in hand with Mrs. Jones at the making up of the Kappa-kappa. But
as he went to the station he reflected that Olivia Green was a very
nice girl. If those ten thousand pounds were true they would be a great
comfort to him. His mother was always bothering him to get married. If
he could bring himself to accept this as his fate he would be saved a
deal of trouble. Spooning at Killancodlem, after all, would not be bad
fun. He almost told himself that he would marry Miss Green, were it not
that he was determined not to be dictated to by that old harridan.

Many people came and went at Rudham Park, but among those who did not
go was Guss Mildmay. Aunt Julia, who had become thoroughly ashamed of
the Baroness, had wished to take her departure on the third day