f education, and to
promise me a good `start off.' I'd have been ready to tackle serious
work at once, but he is against a fellow having real responsibility
until he's had time to feel his feet. I've had to work, of course--he's
keen on that; but he's keen on recreation, too, and freedom from
responsibility. He believes, poor chap, that if a fellow has freedom
between twenty and thirty, he is better fitted to take up responsi--"
Stanor stopped short suddenly, and the blood rushed to his cheeks. "I
wonder!" he repeated blankly; "I wonder!"

For the first time revelation had come home to him with a flash that his
uncle's interference in those two incipient love affairs had not been
coincidence, but a deeply matured plan. He recalled occasions when
chance words had betrayed a surprising acquaintance with his own doings,
the houses at which he visited, and the feminine members of those
households. Unsuspecting himself, he had doubtless betrayed more than
he knew. In more ways than one his uncle had determined to safeguard
his freedom during these early years!

Stanor set his lips. The discovery was no more pleasant to him than it
would be to any other young man of his age. A certain amount of
"management" a fellow must be ready to accept from one who had been so
generous a friend, but this was going too far. The Runkle must be shown
that in purely personal matters his nephew would allow no one to
interfere!

The frown continued for several minutes, but finally gave place to a
smile, for a consideration of the present position had led him to a
comfortable conclusion. The Runkle would be on a wrong tack this time!
If he scented any attraction among the members of Mrs Hilliard's
house-party, it would of a certainty be attributed to the pretty
American heiress, Honor Ward. No one would suspect for a moment that
the fastidious Stanor Vaughan had been laid captive by a plain and
penniless Irish Pixie!

CHAPTER TWELVE.

THE BAZAAR.

The morning of the bazaar was radiantly fine, so that one fear at least
was banished from the hearts of the anxious stall-holders. No excuse
now for patrons living at a distance! No room for written regrets,
enclosing minute postal-orders. Any one who wanted to come, _could_
come, and woe betide the contents of their purse!

Mrs Hilliard's stall was placed in the centre of the hall, and in
accordance with her own directions had been made in the shape of a great
round table,