pulses, but he had never been
much troubled by the voice of conscience. So he went backward and
forward to his lovely home in the country, and played with his
children, and enjoyed life generally.

On a certain day in the first week of September he received a letter
from Mrs. Ogilvie; it ran as follows:--

"MY DEAR LORD GRAYLEIGH,

"You have not, I hope, forgotten your promise to be, as
Sibyl said, one of the big-wigs at my bazaar."

"But I _had_ forgotten it," muttered Grayleigh to himself. "That woman
is, in my opinion, a poor, vain, frivolous creature. Why did she
hamper Ogilvie with that place in his absence? Now, forsooth, she must
play at charity. When that sort of woman does that sort of thing she
is contemptible."

He lowered his eyes again, and went on reading the letter.

"I was obliged to postpone the original date," continued his
correspondent, "but I have quite fixed now that the bazaar
shall be held at our new lovely place on the 24th. You, I
know, will not disappoint me. You will be sure to be
present. I hope to clear a large sum for the Home for
Incurables at Watleigh. Have you heard how badly that poor
dear charity needs funds just now? If you hesitate for a
moment to come and help, just cast a thought on the poor
sufferers there, the children, who will never know the
blessing of strength again. Think what it is to lighten the
burden of their last days, and do not hesitate to lend your
hand to so worthy a work. I have advertised you in the
papers as our principal supporter and patron, and the sooner
we see you at Silverbel the better.

"With kind regards, I remain,
"Yours sincerely,
"MILDRED OGILVIE.

"P.S.--By the way, have you heard that our dear little Sibyl
has met with rather a nasty accident? She fell off that pony
you gave her. I must be frank, Lord Grayleigh, and say that
I never did approve of the child's riding, particularly in
her father's absence. She had a very bad tumble, and hurt
her back, and has since been confined to her couch. I have
had the best advice, and the doctors have been very silly
and gloomy in their reports. Now, for my part, I have not
the slightest faith in doctors, they are just as often
proved wrong as right. The child is getting much better, but
she is still,