enviably notorious (play was not the guiltiest of his
distractions to thoughts that would come back), Miss Bellasys only
smiled haughtily, and did not even deign to betray any curiosity on the
subject. Those ephemeral passions were not the rivals she feared.

Her mother all this time was very uncomfortable. Though herself
perfectly innocent of any connivance in Flora's schemes, she was
afflicted with a perpetual indistinct sort of remorse. Once or twice, I
believe, she did venture on a remonstrance, but she was put down
decisively, and did not try it again.

One evening Guy had been lingering for some time in the Bellasys' box at
the Opera. As he went out into the _foyer_ he saw an old acquaintance
coming toward him.

Lord Killowen was past sixty: the world had used him roughly, and he had
been ruined very early in life, but he bore both years and troubles
lightly. Looking at his smooth forehead, and square, erect figure, and
listening to his ready, cheery laugh, you would never have guessed how
long he had led that guerrilla existence--for forty years keeping the
bailiffs at bay. His nerve and his seat in the saddle were as firm as
they were on the first night of his joining the ---- Hussars, when he
rode Kicking Kate over the iron pales round Hounslow Barrack-yard, and
hit the layers of the long odds for a cool thousand.

He had been intimate with Colonel Livingstone, and had known his son
from childhood; but he was a still closer friend of the Brandon family,
with whom, indeed, he was distantly connected. He had never seen Guy
since the breaking off of the latter's engagement till this night, when
he caught a glimpse of his lofty head bending over Flora Bellasys'
chair.

Lord Killowen's blood was as hot and his impulses as quick as if he had
not yet seen his twentieth winter, and the chivalry within him was
stirred at what he considered an insolent parade of treachery; for he
had guessed much of what had happened, though he did not know all the
truth; so he passed Guy's extended hand, turning his head studiously
aside.

The latter was startled for a moment, but he could not believe in an
intentional "cut," and he knew his friend to be rather short-sighted; so
with one stride he overtook him, and, touching him on the shoulder,
said, "I must be very much changed if you do not know me, Lord
Killowen."

The brave old Irishman turned short upon his heel and confronted the
speaker, bending on him all the light of