wn when
there is company--she is so very sensitive. But that reminds me. She
told me to tell you that she is dying to see you. You will find her
waiting for you in her room when we have finished lunch.'

'Cecilia is not the only person to be thought of,' said Milord. 'I will
not allow Alice to hide herself away upstairs for the rest of the
afternoon. I hear, Alice, you are a great admirer of Tennyson's
_Idylls_. I have just received a new edition of his poems, with
illustrations by Dore: charming artist, full of poetry, fancy,
sweetness, imagination. Do you admire Dore, Captain Hibbert?'

The Captain declared that he admired Dore far more than the old masters,
a point of taste that Milord ventured to question; and until they rose
from table he spoke of his collection of Arundel prints with grace and
erudition. Then they all went out to walk on the terrace. But as their
feet echoed in the silence of the hall, Cecilia, in a voice tremulous
with expectancy, was heard speaking:

'Alice, come upstairs; I am waiting for you.'

Alice made a movement as if to comply, but, stepping under the
banisters, Lord Dungory said:

'Alice cannot come now, she is going out to walk with us, dear. She will
see you afterwards.'

'Oh! let me go to her,' Alice cried.

'There will be plenty of time to see her later on,' whispered Mrs.
Barton. 'Remember what you promised me; 'and she pointed to Captain
Hibbert, who was standing on the steps of the house, his wide decorative
shoulders defined against a piece of grey sky.

In despair at her own helplessness, and with a feeling of loathing so
strong that it seemed like physical sickness, Alice went forward and
entered into conversation with Captain Hibbert. Lord Dungory, Mrs.
Barton, and Olive walked together; Lady Jane and Lady Sarah followed at
a little distance. In this order the party proceeded down the avenue as
far as the first gate; then they returned by a side-walk leading through
the laurels, and stood in a line facing the wind-worn tennis-ground,
with its black, flowerless beds, and bleak vases of alabaster and stone.
From time to time remarks anent the Land League were made; but all knew
that a drama even as important as that of rent was being enacted. Olive
had joined her sister, and the girls moved forward on either side of the
handsome Captain; and, as a couple of shepherds directing the movements
of their flock, Lord Dungory and Mrs. Barton stood watching. Suddenly
her eyes