"
manner, the idea of a country place--an old family place too--by his
diamond ring and florid compliments, his self-satisfied fastidiousness
and his social position. In short, to her he seemed a fashionable hero;
but she was quite sure he never would hamper himself with two little
portionless boys. Ada Liddell was by no means unkind to her children;
she was ready to pet them when they met, and give them what did not cost
her too much; but she considered them a terrible disadvantage, and
herself a most generous and devoted mother.

The day after she had been so ignominiously expelled from John Liddell's
house she put on the prettiest thing she possessed in the way of a
bonnet--a contrivance of black lace and violets--and having inspected
the turn-out of the children's maid in her best go-to-meeting attire,
also the putting on of the boys' newest sailor suits, the curling of
their hair, and many minor details, she sallied forth across Kensington
Gardens to the ride, feeling tolerably sure that, in consequence of a
hint she had dropped a day or two before, when taking afternoon tea in
Mrs. Burnett's drawing-room, Colonel Ormonde would probably be amongst
the riders on his powerful chestnut, ready to receive her report. She
was quite sure he was very much smitten, and eager to know what her
chances with old Liddell might be; and as her mother-in-law had a bad
habit of presiding over her own tea-table, it would be more convenient
to talk with her gay Lothario in the Park.

Many admiring glances were cast upon the pretty little woman in becoming
half-mourning, with the two golden-haired, sweet-looking children and
their trim maid, which did not escape their object, and put her into
excellent spirits. She felt she had gone forth conquering and to
conquer. About half-way down the row she recognized a well-known figure
on a mighty horse, who cantered up to where she stood, followed by a
groom.

"Good-morning, Mrs. Liddell; I thought this piece of fine weather would
tempt you out," cried Colonel Ormonde, dismounting and throwing his rein
to the groom, who led away the horse as if in obedience to some
previously given command. "I protest you are a most tantalizing little
woman!" he exclaimed, when they had shaken hands and he had patted the
children's heads. "I have been looking for you this half-hour. Where did
you hide yourself?"

"I did not hide myself. I am dying to tell you about my uncle."

"Ah! was he all your prophe