on the morrow, an invitation that I hastily accepted, though I heard
Lady Ragnall mutter--"Mean!" beneath her breath. With them departed the
canon and his wife and the curate, being, as they said, "early birds
with duties to perform." After this Lady Ragnall paid me out by going to
bed, having instructed Moxley to show us to the smoking room, "where,"
she whispered as she said good night, "I hope you will enjoy yourself."

Over the rest of the night I draw a veil. For a solid hour and
three-quarters did I sit in that room between this dreadful pair, being
alternately questioned and lectured. At length I could stand it no
longer and while pretending to help myself to whiskey and soda, slipped
through the door and fled upstairs.

I arrived late to breakfast purposely and found that I was wise, for
Lady Ragnall was absent upstairs, recovering from "a headache." Mr.
A.-Smith was also suffering from a headache downstairs, the result of
champagne, port and whisky mixed, and all his family seemed to have
pains in their tempers. Having ascertained that they were going to the
church in the park, I departed to one two miles away and thence walked
straight on to the Scroopes' where I had a very pleasant time, remaining
till five in the afternoon. I returned to tea at the Castle where I
found Lady Ragnall so cross that I went to church again, to the six
o'clock service this time, only getting back in time to dress for
dinner. Here I was paid out for I had to take in Mrs. Atterby-Smith. Oh!
what a meal was that. We sat for the most part in solemn silence
broken only by requests to pass the salt. I observed with satisfaction,
however, that things were growing lively at the other end of the table
where A.-Smith _pere_ was drinking a good deal too much wine. At last I
heard him say,

"We had hoped to spend a few days with you, my dear Luna. But as you
tell us that your engagements make this impossible"--and he paused to
drink some port, whereon Lady Ragnall remarked inconsequently,

"I assure you the ten o'clock train is far the best and I have ordered
the carriage at half-past nine, which is not very early."

"As your engagements make this impossible," he repeated, "we would ask
for the opportunity of a little family conclave with you to-night."

Here all of them turned and glowered at me.

"Certainly," said Lady Ragnall, "'the sooner 'tis over the sooner to
sleep.' Mr. Quatermain, I am sure, will excuse us, will you not? I
h