cans; it's out of the reach of their cheap
excursionists. But how opportune that curious tower is, and the
bridge! of course, it's correct to admire them?"

Mary Masters and Eve, who had been quietly discussing _chiffons_, got
up from their chairs with a preconcerted air.

"We are so tired of sitting still," said the former, balancing
herself with an air of indecision, and giving Mrs. Sylvester time to
note the admirable taste of her simple, maize-coloured travelling
dress, which did not suffer from contrast with the younger girl's
brighter and more elaborately charming toilette. "Miss Sylvester
wants to show me the uncatchable trout in the lake, and I want to go
and see if the salon is empty, so that I can try the piano; and we
can't decide which to do. I suppose, Mrs. Sylvester, that the hotel
is more within the bounds of propriety?"

"Oh, well," said Eve, laughing, "I don't care; anyhow, let's go and
find the piano. Only, there is sure to be some one there already."

"By the way," said Lady Garnett, when the girls had vanished into
the building, "of course you know that Philip Rainham's friend--the
young man who paints and has a moustache, I mean--is here, or will
be very shortly? He was staying at our hotel at Berne."

"Mr. Lightmark, I suppose?" answered the other, without showing her
surprise except in her eyes. "We told him that we were coming to
Lucerne, and it was more or less arranged."

"Ah, yes," interposed Lady Garnett; "am I indiscreet in suggesting
an exceptional attraction?"

Mrs. Sylvester merely looked mysterious, and Lady Garnett was
encouraged to continue.

"Your daughter is very beautiful. This Mr. Lightmark has been
painting her portrait, _n'est ce pas_? I should think it ought to be a
success. Am I to congratulate him?"

"Oh," said Mrs. Sylvester hurriedly, "dear Lady Garnett, it hasn't
gone so far as that."

"The portrait?" murmured the other innocently. "Ah, I'm afraid you
misunderstood me."

Mrs. Sylvester cast a meaning glance in the direction of Eve, who,
sauntering along the terrace with Mary, was now behind their seat,
and the conversation, which promised to become interesting, dropped,
while Mary explained that they had found the music-stool occupied by
a lady, who was superfluously protesting her inability to sing "the
old songs"--the person who always _did_ monopolize hotel pianos, as
Mary laughingly asserted.

Two days later Lightmark presented himself at the Pension Bun