you present me to this young lady?"
And thus with an air of pretension, whose impertinence was partly
covered by an appearance of complete unconsciousness, he bowed and
smiled, and chatted away till the servant announced breakfast.

To the invitation to join them, he vouchsafed the gentlest bend of the
head, and a half smile of acceptance, which the young lady resented by
a stare that might have made a less accomplished master of impertinence
blush to the very forehead. Calvert was, however, a proficient in his
art.

As they entered the breakfast-room, Miss Grainger presented him to a
young and very delicate-looking girl who lay on a sofa propped up by
cushions, and shrouded with shawls, though the season was summer.

"Florence, Mr. Calvert Miss Florence Walter. An invalid come to benefit
by the mild air of Italy, Sir, but who feels even these breezes too
severe and too bracing for her."

"Egypt is your place," said Calvert; "one of those nice villas on the
sea slope of Alexandretta, with the palm-trees and the cedars to keep
off the sun;" and seating himself by her side in an easy familiar way,
devoid of all excess of freedom, talked to her about health and sickness
in a fashion that is very pleasant to the ears of suffering. And he
really talked pleasantly on the theme. It was one of which he had
already some experience. The young wife of a brother officer of his own
had gained, in such a sojourn as he pictured, health enough to go on to
India, and was then alive and well, up in the Hill country above Simlah.

"Only fancy, aunt, what Mr. Calvert is promising me--to be
rosy-cheeked," said the poor sick girl, whose pale face caught a slight
pinkish tint as she spoke. "I am not romancing in the least," said
Calvert, taking his place next Milly at the table. "The dryness of the
air, and the equitable temperature, work, positively, miracles;" and he
went on telling of cures and recoveries. When at last he arose to take
leave, it was amidst a shower of invitations to come back, and pledges
on his part to bring with him some sketches of the scenery of Lower
Egypt, and some notes he had made of his wanderings there.

"By-the-way," said he, as he gained the door, "have I your permission
to present a friend who lives with me--a strange, bashful, shy creature,
very good in his way, though that way isn't exactly my way; but really
clever and well read, I believe. May I bring him? Of course I hope to be
duly accredited to y