has cooled you
down. Have you eaten? I can get something--"

"Yes, yes," said Stafford, rather impatiently. "Got dinner at the
hotel. I came on here at once: heard you'd gone to a dance, and thought
I'd wait. I want you to do something for me, Howard--I'll tell you all
my news some other time--not that there's much to tell: I'm well and
nourishing, as you see. I want you to go down to Bryndermere. I dare
not go myself--not yet. I want you to get all the information you can
about--about a lady: Miss Heron of Herondale--"

"How very strange!" said Howard innocently. "Do you know, I have just
had the pleasure of meeting a Miss Heron of Herondale--"

Stafford sprang to his feet.

"Where?" he demanded hotly.

"At Lady Clansford's ball, which I have just left. May I ask why you
are so interested in Miss Heron as to send me on such a mission?"

"I love her," said Stafford briefly. "I can not live without her--I've
tried, and I've failed. I've loved her since--oh, I can't tell you! I
want to know what she is doing. I want to know if she has forgotten me;
if there is any hope for me!"

Howard looked at him compassionately, and whistled softly.

"My dear old man," he said, with an air of reluctance, "you fly rather
high! The lady you speak of is the belle of the present season; she is
the admired of all admirers; belted earls, to say nothing of noble
dukes, are at her feet. She was the star of the ball which I have just
left. If I may say so, I think you were very unwise to leave such a
peerless pearl to be snapped up--"

Stafford turned away from him and stifled a groan.

"I might have know it," he said. "The belle of the season! Well, why
not? There is no one more beautiful, no one more sweet. Who am I that
she should remember me? What am I--"

"Rather a foolish young man, if you ask me," said Howard. "If I'd been
in love with such a peerless creature, I shouldn't have left her to go
tramping after cattle in Australia."

"What else could I do?" exclaimed Stafford, sternly. "Have you
forgotten that I was not set free, that when--when death"--his voice
dropped--"set me free, that it was no time to speak of love to another
woman? I was obliged to go; but I've came back--too late, I suppose!
Don't say any more; let us talk of something else: you are looking
well. Howard."

"Yes, it's no use crying over spilt milk," said Howard, with a sigh.
"Oh, I'm all right. Look here, I'll put you up to-night; we're got a
spare