vously.

'Not the least little bit in the world. You'll see! He so wants to know
my best-beloved relations better.' She stopped to bestow another embrace
on Lady John. 'An orphan has so few belongings, she has to make the most
of them.'

'Let us hope he'll approve of us on further acquaintance.'

'Oh, he will! He's an angel. Why, he gets on with my grandfather!'

'Does he?' said her aunt, unable to forbear teasing her a little. 'You
mean to say Mr. Geoffrey Stonor isn't just a tiny bit "superior" about
Dissenters.'

'Not half as much so as Uncle John, and all the rest of you! My
grandfather's been ill again, you know, and rather difficult--bless him!
but Geoffrey----' she clasped her hands to fill out her wordless content
with him.

'Geoffrey _must_ have powers of persuasion, to get that old Covenanter
to let you come in an abhorred motor-car, on Sunday, too!'

Jean pursed her red lips and put up a cautionary finger with a droll
little air of alarm.

'Grandfather didn't know!' she half whispered.

'Didn't know?'

'I honestly meant to come by train,' she hastened to exculpate herself.
'Geoffrey met me on my way to the station. We had the most glorious run!
Oh, Aunt Ellen, we're so happy!' She pressed her cheek against Lady
John's shoulder. 'I've so looked forward to having you to myself the
whole day just to talk to you about----'

Lord John turned away with affected displeasure. 'Oh, very well----'

She jumped up and caught him affectionately by the arm. '_You'd_ find it
dreffly dull to hear me talk about Geoffrey the whole blessed day!'

'Well, till luncheon, my dear----' Lady John had risen with a glance at
the clock. 'You mustn't mind if I----' She broke off and went to the
writing-table, saying aside to her husband, 'I'm beginning to feel a
little anxious; Miss Levering wasn't only tired last night, she was
ill.'

'I thought she looked very white,' said Lord John.

'Oh, dear! Have you got other people?' demanded the happy egoist.

'One or two. Your uncle's responsible for asking that old cynic, St.
John Greatorex, and I'm responsible for----'

Jean stopped in the act of taking off her long gloves. 'Mr. Greatorex!
He's a Liberal, isn't he?' she said with sudden gravity.

'Little Jean!' Lord John chuckled, 'beginning to "think in parties!"'

'It's very natural now that she should----'

'I only meant it was odd he should be _here_. Of course I'm not so
silly----'

'It's all right, my child,'