r charming daughter with you all this way, and at so late an
hour. Why, it must be getting on for ten."

"For ten, Sir Hilton?" cried Simpkins, with a chuckle, and, to the
baronet's surprise, he dropped into a lounge.

"Don't scold father, uncle," said the girl, with a little emphasis on
the last word, whose effect was to make the gentleman addressed lay his
fidgety left hand once more upon his forehead. "I wanted to come, you
know."

"Eh? Very good of you," said Sir Hilton, politely; "and I shall make a
point of telling Lady Lisle how kind and attentive you were at your
house during my little indisposition. It was the sun, I feel sure."

"Ay, you've hit it now, Sir Hilton. That's what it was--the sun."

"Yes, the sun," assented Sir Hilton, before turning again smilingly to
Molly. "Yes," he repeated, "I feel sure that Lady Lisle will be most
grateful, and that she will call upon you to express her gratitude for
the kindness of La Sylphide."

"Oh! Sir Hilton--" began Molly; but she stopped, for he went off,
wandering strangely again at the mention of that word, but only to be
brought up short by the trainer.

"There, what did I say, Sir Hilton? You were not fit to go, but you
would insist upon coming home."

"Ah, yes," cried the baronet, recollecting himself again. "I remember
now--I was ill--in bed--there was the doctor--I grew better, and wanted
to come home, and the landlord insisted upon bringing his little nurse."

"That's right, Sir Hilton."

"But I didn't want him, and I don't want the little nurse; do I, Syd?"

"No, uncle, of course not. But I do, darling," whispered the boy,
nudging his wife.

"Quite right, my boy. So now, Mr Simpkins, I thank you once more. Will
you have the goodness to take your daughter and go?"

"No, Sir Hilton, with all due respect to you," said the trainer, drawing
himself up; "seeing how things has happened, and what it all means to me
and mine now, I say as you ain't fit to be left. Is he, my dear?"

"No, dad. I think he looks very ill."

"That's right, my dear," whispered the trainer. "Here you are, and here
you're going to stop."

Sir Hilton had turned angrily away at the trainer's reply, and went out
into the hall, followed by Syd.

"What impudence! Not ill a bit now, only a little thick in the head.
Hang him! Let him stop, Syd; but what about that girl? I don't know
what your aunt will say."

"No, uncle; no more do I."

Sir Hilton pulled out