as they might think that because Frank was with them on that California
mountain we would believe it had something to do with Richardson
involving the Bank in that wretched company, we must really INSIST upon
their coming."

"Bradley!" echoed the Hon. Captain FitzHarry, overhearing the name
during a late forage on the sideboard, "Bradley!--there was an awfully
pretty American at Biarritz, travelling with a cousin, I think--a Miss
Mason or Macy. Those sort of people, you know, who have a companion
as pretty as themselves; bring you down with the other barrel if one
misses--eh? Very clever, both of them, and hardly any accent."

"Mr. Bradley was a very dear friend of Frank's, and most kind to him,"
said Lady Mainwaring, gravely.

"Didn't know there WAS a Mr. Bradley, really. He didn't come to the
fore, then," said the unabashed Captain. "Deuced hard to follow up those
American husbands!"

"And their wives wouldn't thank you, if you did," said Lady Griselda
Armiger, with a sweet smile.

"If it is the Mrs. Bradley I mean," said Lady Canterbridge from the
lower end of the table, looking up from her letter, "who looks a little
like Mrs. Summertree, and has a pretty cousin with her who has very good
frocks, I'm afraid you won't be able to get her down here. She's booked
with engagements for the next six weeks. She and her cousin made all the
running at Grigsby Royal, and she has quite deposed that other American
beauty in Northforeland's good graces. She regularly affiche'd him, and
it is piteous to see him follow her about. No, my dear; I don't believe
they'll come to any one of less rank than a Marquis. If they did, I'm
sure Canterbridge would have had them at Buckenthorpe already."

"I wonder if there was ever anything in Frank's admiration of this Miss
Macy?" said Lady Mainwaring a few moments later, lingering beside her
husband in his study.

"I really don't know," said Sir Robert, abstractedly: "his letters were
filled with her praises, and Richardson thought--"

"Pray don't mention that man's name again," said Lady Mainwaring, with
the first indication of feeling she had shown. "I shouldn't trust him."

"But why do you ask?" returned her husband.

Lady Mainwaring was silent for a moment. "She is very rich, I believe,"
she said slowly. "At least, Frank writes that some neighbors of theirs
whom he met in the Engadine told him they had sold the site of that
absurd cottage where he was ill for some extravagant