pleased, astonished, but more than all, disturbed. The only man
who might claim a right to this figurative possession of her tastes
and habits was the one whom she had quietly, reflectively, and
understandingly half accepted as her lover, and on whose account she had
come to consult Rushbrook. But Somers was not a sentimentalist; in
fact, as a young girl, forced by her independent position to somewhat
critically scrutinize masculine weaknesses, this had always been a point
in his favor; yet even if he had joined with his friend Rushbrook to
perpetuate the memory of their first acquaintanceship, his taste merely
would not have selected a chambre de garcon in Mr. Rushbrook's home for
its exhibition. Her conception of the opposite characters of the two men
was singularly distinct and real, and this momentary confusion of them
was disagreeable to her woman's sense. But at this moment James came to
release her and conduct her to Rushbrook's study, where he would join
her at once. Everything had been arranged as she had wished.

Even a more practical man than Rushbrook might have lingered over the
picture of the tall, graceful figure of Miss Nevil, quietly enthroned in
a large armchair by the fire, her scarlet, satin-lined cloak thrown over
its back, and her chin resting on her hand. But the millionaire
walked directly towards her with his usual frankness of conscious but
restrained power, and she felt, as she always did, perfectly at her
ease in his presence. Even as she took his outstretched hand, its
straightforward grasp seemed to endow her with its own confidence.

"You'll excuse my coming here so abruptly," she smiled, "but I wanted
to get before Mr. Leyton, who, I believe, wishes to see you on the same
business as myself."

"He is here already, and dining with me," said Rushbrook.

"Ah! does he know I am here?" asked the girl, quietly.

"No; as he said you had thought of coming with him and didn't, I
presumed you didn't care to have him know you had come alone."

"Not exactly that, Mr. Rushbrook," she said, fixing her beautiful eyes
on him in bright and trustful confidence, "but I happen to have a fuller
knowledge of this business than he has, and yet, as it is not altogether
my own secret, I was not permitted to divulge it to him. Nor would I
tell it to you, only I cannot bear that you should think that I
had anything to do with this wretched inquisition into Mr. Somers's
prospects. Knowing as well as you do how