ave thought her lost to all sense of propriety. For one of
Miss Brooke's chief theories was that no self-respecting young woman
needs a chaperon. And she had flatly refused to chaperone Lesley except
on inevitable or really desirable occasions. "The girl must learn to go
about the world by herself," she had said. "And I will say this for
Lesley, she is not naturally timid or helpless--it is only training that
makes her so." And under this tuition Lesley soon acquired the
self-possession in which she had been somewhat wanting when she came,
newly-fledged, from her convent.

So when Oliver called again--it was on a message from his sister, and it
had not yet recurred to Lesley to wonder at the readiness shown by
English brothers to run on messages to their sisters' friends--he found
Lesley alone, as usual, in the drawing-room, and she welcomed him with
considerable warmth--a warmth that took him by surprise.

"I am so glad to see you, Mr. Trent: I wanted to ask you something," she
said, at once.

"Ask me anything--command me in anything," he replied.

He sank into a low chair at her right hand, and looked quite
devotionally into her face. Lesley felt a trifle disturbed. She could
not forget that Oliver was Ethel's lover, and she did not think that he
ought to look at her so--_eagerly_--she did not know what else to call
it. It was a look that made her uncomfortable. Nobody had ever looked at
her in that way before. They did not look like that in the convent.

"It is nothing very particular," she said, shrinking back a little.
"Only I have nobody to ask."

"I know--I understand," said Oliver, in his softest tones. Somehow his
sympathy did not offend her, as Mr. Kenyon's had done.

"It is very stupid of me," Lesley went on, trying to smile, "not to ask
my father or Aunt Sophy; but I am afraid they would only laugh at me."

"I shall not laugh at you," said Oliver, marvelling inwardly.

"Won't you? You are sure? It is only a little, stupid, ordinary
question. Do you know anything about Macclesfield Buildings?"

Oliver drew himself up in his chair. Was _that_ the question? He did not
believe it. But he answered her unsmilingly.

"Yes, Miss Brooke. They are the blocks of workmen's dwellings where your
father has founded a Club."

"Has he?" said Lesley, her eyes dilating. "That is--very good of him,
isn't it?"

"Oh, I suppose so," Oliver answered, with a little laugh. "Of
course--but I must not insinuate worldly m