and well-meaning! What excellent
material for the formation of a really civilised State? They had
evidently been impressed with him, and, on going home, would make him
the subject of their talk. To-morrow his name would sound frequently in
several houses, always with complimentary adjunct. The thought made his
pulses throb. To be talked of, to be admired, was the strongest
incentive known to him.

Of Lady Ogram he thought with positive affection; to the end of his
life he would revere her memory. Constance Bride he esteemed as a loyal
friend; never would he fail in gratitude to her; she should have his
confidence, and he would often seek her counsel; a good, able girl of
the best modern type. Last of all there came into his mind the visage
of a small, impulsive woman, with freckled oval face, and hair the
colour of an autumn elm-leaf, Iris Woolstan; to her, too, how much he
was beholden. Good, foolish, fidgetty Iris Woolstan! Never again could
he be impatient with her. Of course he must pay back her money as soon
as possible. Brave little creature, light-heartedly sending him her
cheque for three hundred pounds; why, there was something heroic in it.
Yes, he acknowledged himself lucky in his woman friends; few men could
be so fortunate. To be sure, it was the result of his rational views,
of his straightforward, honest method. He saw his way to do noble
service in the cause of womanhood, and that by following the path of
mere common sense--all sentimental and so-called chivalrous humbug cast
aside, all exaggerated new conceptions simply disregarded. His bosom
swelled with glorious faith in his own future and in that of the world.

Among the guests had figured Mr. Breakspeare, looking a trifle fresher
than usual in his clean linen and ceremonial black. Hearing that
Lashmar was to spend a couple of days more at Rivenoak, he asked him to
dine on the following evening, Lady Ogram readily permitting the
invitation.

"I say dine; sup would be the better word, for I can offer you only
simple entertainment. We shall be alone; I want the full advantage of
your talk. Afterwards, if you approve, we will look in upon an old
friend of mine who would have great satisfaction in exchanging ideas
with you. Something of an original; at all events you will find him
amusing."

To this relaxation Dyce looked forward with pleasure. Nearly the whole
of the next day he spent in solitude; for Lady Ogram did not appear
until the afternoon,