ady Scapegrace and her cavalier
close behind us; and I do confess I rather attributed Frank's
extremely moderate request to their immediate vicinity; there was no
opportunity, however, of renewing the subject. John had said all he
_had_ to say to his companion. John soon gets high and dry with these
smart ladies, and they seem mutually tired of each other; so we got
the carriage and took our departure, Frank pressing my hand as he bade
me farewell, and whispering, "_Au revoir_, Miss Coventry; something
tells me it won't be very long before we meet again." What _could_ he
mean?

CHAPTER VIII.

It was a melancholy work to glide out of London by the last train, and
to think that one's gaieties were over for that summer, and that there
was nothing to look forward to till the hunting season but Dangerfield
and Lady Horsingham, and the wearisome monotony of a regular
country-house life. Aunt Deborah and I settled ourselves comfortably
in a roomy first-class carriage, she with her knitting and I with the
last _Punch_--in which, by the way, was the portrait of a dandy, the
very image of Frank Lovell--and prepared for our journey, as ladies
generally do, by arranging multifarious outworks of smelling-bottles,
shawls, reticules, parasols, etc., without which paraphernalia no
well-bred woman can possibly travel a hundred yards. I confess I
dreaded the trip. I was too well aware by experience that a railway
always makes Aunt Deborah rather cross and me very sleepy; so I knew
what was coming, and I was not disappointed. Before we had fairly left
the outskirts of London I saw by the way in which my aunt laid down
her knitting and the ominous cough or two in which she indulged that I
was in for a lecture; and sure enough, just as we emerged on the open
fields and began to smell the fresh country air, it began.

"Kate," said my aunt, "as we are going to a very regular and
well-conducted establishment, I think it is a good opportunity for me
to say a few words to you as regards your past conduct."

"Good gracious, aunt!" I replied, quite frightened, "what have I
done?"

"My dear," said my aunt, "I have seen a great deal going on lately
that I have taken no notice of; but it don't follow that I should
approve of it any more than John."

"And what has John got to do with it, I should like to know?" I
rejoined, firing up on the instant, for such a chance of carrying the
war into the enemy's country was not to be neglected.