ding the stairs, and her
low, sweet whistling, renewing the air of "Lord Bateman." She came into
the library, still whistling thoughtfully, a fur coat over her arm,
ready to put on, and two veils round her small black hat, her right hand
engaged in buttoning the glove upon her left; and, as the large room
contained too many pieces of heavy furniture, and the inside shutters
excluded most of the light of day, she did not at once perceive George's
presence. Instead, she went to the bay window at the end of the room,
which afforded a view of the street, and glanced out expectantly; then
bent her attention upon her glove; after that, looked out toward the
street again, ceased to whistle, and turned toward the interior of the
room.

"Why, Georgie!"

She came, leaned over from behind him, and there was a faint, exquisite
odour as from distant apple blossoms as she kissed his cheek. "Dear, I
waited lunch almost an hour for you, but you didn't come! Did you lunch
out somewhere?"

"Yes." He did not look up from the book.

"Did you have plenty to eat?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure? Wouldn't you like to have Maggie get you something now
in the dining room? Or they could bring it to you here, if you think it
would be cozier. Shan't I--"

A tinkling bell was audible, and she moved to the doorway into the hall.
"I'm going out driving, dear. I--" She interrupted herself to address
the housemaid, who was passing through the hall: "I think it's Mr.
Morgan, Mary. Tell him I'll be there at once."

"Yes, ma'am."

Mary returned. "Twas a pedlar, ma'am."

"Another one?" Isabel said, surprised. "I thought you said it was a
pedlar when the bell rang a little while ago."

"Mister George said it was, ma'am; he went to the door," Mary informed
her, disappearing.

"There seem to be a great many of them," Isabel mused. "What did yours
want to sell, George?"

"He didn't say."

"You must have cut him off short!" she laughed; and then, still standing
in the doorway, she noticed the big silver frame upon the table beside
him. "Gracious, Georgie!" she exclaimed. "You have been investing!" and
as she came across the room for a closer view, "Is it--is it Lucy?"
she asked half timidly, half archly. But the next instant she saw whose
likeness was thus set forth in elegiac splendour--and she was silent,
except for a long, just-audible "Oh!"

He neither looked up nor moved.

"That was nice of you, Georgie," she said, in a low voice presently.