urn to
England, and--if I am not too late for it--make an effort to secure the
post of governess to Lady Chepstow's little son. I shall start in the
morning. Will you play the part of friend and guide and see me safely
across the Channel?"

"Do you mean that?" he asked, his face alight, his eyes shining. "You
will let me have the privilege, the honour? What a queen you are! You
give largesse with both hands when a simple coin would have been enough.
Shall I secure your tickets? When will you have your luggage ready? Is
there anything you will need before you leave?"

She smiled at his enthusiasm, coloured anew, and again held out her
hand.

"We will talk of all that in the morning," she said. "There will be
plenty of time. Mlle. de Carjorac has promised to look after my effects
and to see that they are shipped on to me in due course. But now it
really must be good-night. I shall see you again at breakfast."

"At breakfast?" repeated Cleek, with a happy laugh. "I wonder if you
understand that I shall be kicking my heels on my bedside until it is
ready?--that I shan't sleep a wink all night?"

And as events proved he came respectably close to living up to that
exuberant assertion--merely napping now and again, to wake up suddenly
and "moon" for an hour or so; and, between periodical inspections of his
watch, to wonder if God ever made a night so long and slow-dragging as
this one.

It had its recompense, however; for all--or nearly all--the next day was
passed in company with _her_; and more than that he would not have asked
of Heaven. Long before she rose he had made all arrangements for the
journey to Calais; and she was not a little gratified--yes, and touched
if the truth must be told--on arriving at the train, to find that he had
made no effort to secure accommodations which would compel her to endure
his companionship alone from the Gare du Nord to the steamer, but had
considerately reserved seats in a compartment containing other
travellers, and had done everything in his power to relieve her of any
possible embarrassment and to insure her all possible comforts. Even
magazines and pictorial papers were not omitted, but were there for her
in plenty lest she might prefer an excuse for not indulging much in
conversation; and there was also a huge bunch of La France roses bought
at the temporary flower market beside the Madeleine at daybreak that
morning.

"They are beautiful, aren't they?" he said, as he laid