I don't mean," says Brandolin. "And I never cared
about Scotland."

The other smokes dejectedly, and refuses to be comforted.

"Lady Waverley isn't here?" asks Brandolin, with a certain significance.
Lady Waverley alone would have the power of making the torturing vision
of the American among the heather fade into the background of her host's
reflections.

CHAPTER II.

"Dolly is nasty about Achnalorrie," says Lord Usk, as they at last rise
and approach the house.

"Not logical if she objects to moors on political principles. But ladies
are seldom logical when they are as charming as Lady Usk."

"She never likes me to enjoy anything."

"I don't think you are quite just to her: you know I always tell you
so." (Brandolin remembers the sweetness with which Dorothy Usk invites
Lady Waverley season after season.) "You are a great grumbler, George. I
know grumbling is a Briton's privilege, provided for and secured to him
in Magna Charta; but still too great abuse of the privilege spoils
life."

"Nobody was ever so bothered as I am." Lord Usk regards himself
invariably with compassion as an ill-used man. "You always take
everything lightly; but then you aren't married, and I suppose you get
_some_ of your rents?"

"I have always been rather poor, but I don't mind it. So long as I
needn't shut up or let the old place, and can keep my boat afloat, I
don't much care about anything more. I've enough for myself."

"Ah, that's just it; but when one has no end of family expenses and four
great houses to keep up, and the counties looking to one for everything,
and the farmers, poor devils, ruined themselves, it's another matter. I
assure you if I hadn't made that sacrifice of Achnalorrie----"

Lady Usk coming out of the garden-room down the steps of one of the low
windows spares Brandolin the continuation of the lament. She looks
pretty; mindful of her years, she holds a rose-lined sun-umbrella over
her head; the lace and muslin of her breakfast-gown sweep the lawn
softly; she has her two daughters with her, the Ladies Alexandra and
Hermione, known as Dodo and Lilie. She welcomes Brandolin with mixed
feelings, though with unmixed suavity. She is glad to see him because he
amuses Usk, and is a person of wit and distinction whom everybody tries
to draw to their houses; but then he upsets all her nicely-balanced
combinations; there is nobody for him; he will be the "one out" when all
her people so nicely arranged an