r to his mother. In very affectionate and amusing terms it begged
her not to take the disappointment too seriously. "I think I won't come
round to-night. But expect me first thing to-morrow."

He sent the note by messenger and walked home. When he reached Hill
Street it was close on eight. Outside the house he suddenly asked
himself what line he was going to take with Kitty.

Kitty, however, was not at home. As far as he could remember she had
gone coaching with the Alcots into Surrey, Geoffrey Cliffe, of course,
being of the party. Presently, indeed, he discovered a hasty line from
her on his study table, to say that they were to dine at Richmond, and
"Madeleine" supposed they would get home between ten and eleven. Not a
word more. Like all strong men, Ashe despised the meditations of
self-pity. But the involuntary reflection that on this evening of
humiliation Kitty was not with him--did not apparently care enough about
his affairs and his ambitions to be with him--brought with it a soreness
which had to be endured.

The next moment, he was inclined to be glad of her absence. Such things,
especially in the first shock of them, are best faced alone. If, indeed,
there were any shock in the matter. He had for some time had his own
shrewd previsions, and he was aware of a strong inner belief that his
defeat was but temporary.

Probably, when she had time to remember such trifles, Kitty would feel
the shock more than he did. Lady Parham had certainly won this round of
the rubber!

He settled to his solitary dinner, but in the middle of it put down
Kitty's Aberdeen terrier, which, for want of other company, he was
stuffing atrociously, and ran up to the nursery. The nurse was at her
supper, and Harry lay fast asleep, a pretty little fellow, flushed into
a semblance of health, and with a strong look of Kitty.

Ashe bent down and put his whiskered cheek to the boy's. "Never mind,
old man!" he murmured, "better luck next time!"

Then raising himself with a smile, he looked affectionately at the
child, noticed with satisfaction his bright color and even breathing,
and stole away.

He ran through the comments of the evening papers on the new cabinet
list, finding in only two or three any reference to himself, then threw
them aside, and seized upon a pile of books and reviews that were lying
on his table. He carried them up to the drawing-room, hesitated between
a theological review and a new edition of Horace, and final