come!" she exclaimed breathlessly, as she entered
the sitting room where Mrs. Lorton was reclining on the sofa with the
_Fashion Gazette_ and a bottle of eau de Cologne beside her. "Dick, I
will give you three guesses--with a box of cigarettes as a prize," as
Dick sauntered in with the gun under his arm.

"My dear Eleanor, why this excitement?" asked Mrs. Lorton rebukingly.
"Your face is flushed, and your hat is on one side----"

"You'll have to give up drinking in the daytime, Nell," remarked Dick.
"No, mamma, the gun will not go off, because it is not loaded. I wish it
would, because I'm stone-broke and haven't any more cartridges. If I had
a sister worthy of the name, she would advance me a small sum out of her
pocket money."

"Guess, guess!" broke in Nell impatiently.

Dick smiled contemptuously.

"Some conceited clown to lecture in the schoolroom?" he said. "We know
you of old, my dear Nell. Is there to be any tea this afternoon?"

"Clown!" retorted Nell scornfully. "Really, I've a good mind not to tell
you until he--he comes himself."

"He--who? I must ask you to restrain your excitement, Eleanor. My nerves
are in a very sad condition to-day, and I cannot--I really cannot bear
any mental strain."

"It's Mr. Drake Vernon," said Nell, more soberly.

Dick uttered the yell of a rejoicing red Indian; and Mrs. Lorton slid
into an upright position with incredible rapidity.

"Mr. Vernon! Go on, you're joking, Nell!" cried Dick; "and yet you look
pleased enough for it to be true! Mr. Vernon! Hurrah! Sorry, mamma, but
my feelings, which usually are under perfect control----"

"Is my hair tidy, Eleanor? Take this eau de Cologne away. Where is he?
Did you think to bring a tea cake for tea? No, of course not; you think
of nothing, nothing! I sometimes wonder why you have not imitated some
of the Wolfer tact and readiness."

"I met Mr. Vernon on the moor, away from the village. I will make some
toast. He is coming up presently. He is going to stay at the
Brownies'--this is my best hat. Do be careful!"

For Dick, in his joy, had fallen against her in the passage and nearly
knocked her hat off; then he seized her by the arm, and, fixing her with
a gaze of exaggerated keenness, demanded in melodramatic tones, but too
low for Mrs. Lorton to hear:

"What means this sudden and strange return of the interesting stranger?
Speak, girl! Attempt not to deceive; subterfuge will not avail ye! Say,
what means this unexpected