came to his terms
he would come over here, search you out, and try to steal you away from
me."

"But then he had not seen _me_," said Grace, mockingly.

All laughed at that. Rose spoke first and said: "But, if he is your close
friend, and has come to England with you, why does he go back to the
hotel?"

Browning smiled and said, "Why, child, save for three days in his own
father's house, he has been under no gentleman's private roof for years.
He does not know our English methods. And that makes me think; I, too,
must go. My own tenure here was a little uncertain, when I went away, and
now I, too, am going to the hotel. When my father comes, Grace, you may
tell him I have been here, that I called, but that I am staying at
the ---- Hotel. If he comes and calls upon me, I shall be glad to see
him; if he does not, why, to-morrow at ten, if you girls will have your
hats and wraps on, I think Jim and myself will be glad to engage you for
a drive. Jim has not been forbidden the premises, and he can call for you
while I wait outside."

No persuasion would make him remain. Putting his arm around Rose, he drew
her to him, and said: "We will give the old folks a chance to do the fair
thing; if they will not, what then, little one?"

"Henceforth," she answered, gravely, but low and sweet, "your home is to
be my home, your God my God." Then she bent and touched his hand with her
lips, and he wended his way back to find Sedgwick.

CHAPTER VII.

A DINNER PARTY.

And Sedgwick, what of him? He had gone, as he said, "to see Jack through,
as Jack had stood by him in Ohio," but when Grace Hamlin--or Grace
Meredith, which was her real name--at their summons entered the parlor he
was transfixed. Just medium height was she, slight but perfect in form,
with darkish-brown eyes and clear-cut features, a golden chestnut curly
mass of hair, the hand of a queen, and the hand-clasp of a sincere, true
and happy woman. And poor Jim was lost in a moment.

He called up all his self-possession, and did the best he could, but
he seized the first opportunity to get away where he could think. Once
outside the house, he hailed a cab, told the driver to jog around for
an hour or two, and then land him at the ---- Hotel. Once started, he
settled back and began to cross-question himself, and to moralize over
the situation.

"I have seen prettier girls than this one, seen them in Ohio, in Texas,
in Virginia City, and they never gave me an e