only
see me!" she told herself ecstatically. "If the girls could see me
sitting here talking to this strange young man! They'd have a fit!
They'd go crazy with excitement! I must, I must lure him to the window,
and let them see us together! They will never believe me unless I do."
She looked up, to meet Gervase's eyes fixed upon her, and found
inspiration in his first remark.

"You are looking at your own house, are you not? It is exactly opposite
this, I think. My uncle pointed it out to me last night."

"Yes, just opposite. It stands on the road, as this one does, but we
have a lovely garden behind. You can see a little bit of it from here!"
and wily Nan led the way to the window, secure of bringing Gervase in
her train, and keeping him in evidence until it pleased her to finish
her explanations. The appearance of her own light dress was sufficient
to attract Elsie's attention; but what of the agitation of the three at
sight of her companion? Elsie fled into the background--"The better to
see you, my dear,"--and Nan's keen eyes could discern the three patches
of white made by the gaping faces, the while she smiled and posed, far
more for their benefit than that of her companion. Presently Elsie
disappeared, and Nan knew as well as if she had heard the words spoken,
that the object of her flight had been to bring the opera-glasses from
the drawing-room, when the three would take turns to stare at the
stranger, and speculate as to his identity. In the first mischievous
enjoyment of the moment she found it impossible to face her companion,
but when at last she did venture to meet his glance she was vastly
impressed by his appearance. A superfine specimen indeed, this Gervase
Vanburgh, with his frock-coat, well-creased trousers, and immaculate
linen. Even Nan, the unnoticing, noted the faultlessness of detail
which characterised his attire, and had an instant perception that Ned
Talbot would look rough and countrified by his side, and even Jim
himself suffer from the contrast. Evidently this was a dandy of the
first water; yet, despite his languid bearing, his face was full of
intelligence, and decision of character was proclaimed in the large nose
and square, clean-cut chin.

"What a mercy I tidied my hair!" sighed Nan to herself; and at that
moment the door opened, and in came the Italian servant, pushing his
master before him in the wheeled chair in which he was moved from one
room to another. The i