back."

"Oh, let us not talk about it, Mrs. Charrington," said Iola hurriedly;
"he is gone."

"As you wish, my dear. Daisy, take Dr. Bulling down to the cabin. I
declare he looks as if he needed bracing up. I shall take the wheel."

"Mrs. Charrington," said Iola in a low voice, as Bulling disappeared
down the companionway, "that was Mr. Boyle, my friend, and I want you to
think him a man of the highest honour. But he doesn't like Dr. Bulling.
He doesn't trust him."

"My dear, my dear," said Mrs. Charrington brusquely, "don't trouble
yourself about him. I haven't lived fifty years for nothing. Oh! these
men, these men! They take themselves too seriously, the dear creatures.
But they are just like ourselves, with a little more conceit and
considerably less wit. And they are not really worth all the trouble we
take for them. I must get to know your medallist, my dear. That was a
strong face and an honest face. I have heard John rave about him. John
is my young son, first year in medicine. His judgment, I confess, is not
altogether reliable--worships brawn, and there are traditions afloat as
to that young man's doings when they were initiating him. But I have no
doubt that, however sane on other subjects, he is quite mad about you,
and, hang me! if I can wonder. If I were a young man I'd get my arms
round you as soon as possible."

As she chattered along, Iola found her heart warm to Mrs. Duff
Charrington, who, with all her sporty manners and masculine ways, was an
honest soul, with a shrewd wit and a kindly heart.

"I'm glad now I came," said Iola gratefully; "I was afraid you
weren't--" She paused abruptly in confusion.

"Oh, I'm not so bad as I'm painted, I assure you."

"Oh, dear Mrs. Charrington, it was not you I was afraid of, it was what
Dr. Bulling--" Again Iola hesitated.

"Don't bother telling me," said Mrs. Duff Charrington, observing her
confusion. "No doubt Bulling gave you to understand that he worked me
to invite you. Confess now." There was a shrewd twinkle in her keen grey
eye. "Bulling is a liar, a terrible liar, with large possibilities of
self-appreciation. But he had nothing to do with this invitation, though
he flatters himself he had. He's not without ability, but he can't teach
his grandmother to suck eggs. I'll tell you why you are here. I pride
myself upon having an eye for a winner, and I pick you as one, and
that's why you are to sing in the Philharmonic. Evelyn Redd has a pretty
voic