nly shook her head. "No," she said, quickly, "I don't want
it. Not from you."

And then Lesley's foot was heard upon the stairs. Oliver looked up to
Ethel's balcony. Yes, she was there, her hand upon the railing, her eyes
fixed on him with what was evidently a puzzled stare. Oliver smiled and
raised his hat. Ethel nodded and smiled in return. But he
fancied--though, of course, at that distance he could not be sure--that
she still looked puzzled as she returned his bow and smile.

He walked on with Lesley. But his good-humor was gone: the usual suavity
of his manner was a little ruffled. His recognition of Mary Kingston had
evidently been displeasing as well as embarrassing to him.

CHAPTER XIV.

"HOME, SWEET HOME."

Mrs. Romaine and Oliver Trent attributed Lesley's desire to see
Macclesfield Buildings to a young girl's curiosity, and, perhaps, to a
desire for Oliver's company. They had no conception of the new fancies
and feelings, aims and interests, which were developing in her soul.
Only so much of these were visible as to lead Oliver to say to his
sister before they sallied forth that afternoon--

"I fancy she is getting up an enthusiasm for her father. Won't that be
awkward for you?"

Mrs. Romaine was silent for a moment. Then she answered, with perfect
quietness--

"I think it will be more awkward for Lady Alice. It may be rather
convenient for us."

And Oliver noticed that for the rest of the afternoon she took every
opportunity of indirectly and directly praising Mr. Brooke, his works
and ways. But he could not see that Lesley looked pleased--perhaps Mrs.
Romaine's words had rather an artificial ring.

Somehow, it seemed to Lesley as if she hated the expedition on which she
came. Was it not a little too like spying upon her father's work? He had
never invited her to Macclesfield Buildings. And he would never know the
spirit in which she came: it would seem to him as though she had been
brought in Mrs. Romaine's train, perhaps against her will, to laugh, to
stare, to criticize. She would rather have crept in humbly, and tried to
understand, by herself, what he was trying to do. What would he think of
her when he saw her there that afternoon?

She was morbidly afraid of him and of his opinion. Caspar Brooke would
have been as much hurt as astonished if he knew in what ogre-like light
she regarded him.

Ethel joined them before they started for Macclesfield Buildings, and as
rain was beginni