o agitation. "Lord Dymchurch says he would gladly help
you, if it were in his power. Don't you think he _might_ be of some
use?"

"No, I don't. Dymchurch is a dreaming nobody."

"What a strange way to speak of him!" said May, as if slightly
offended. "You used to have quite a different opinion."

"Perhaps so. I didn't know him so well. There's nothing whatever in the
man, and he'll never do anything as long as he lives. You know that as
well as I do."

"I think you are mistaken," May answered, in an absent voice, her look
betraying some travail of the mind, as if she were really debating with
herself the question of Dymchurch's prospects.

"Do you mean that?" cried Lashmar, with annoyance.

"I certainly shouldn't call him a 'dreaming nobody,'" replied May, in
the tone of dignified reproof. "Lord Dymchurch is very thoughtful, and
very well-informed, and has very high principles."

"One may admit all that. All I meant was that there is no career before
him. Would anyone dream of comparing him, for instance, with me? You
needn't smile. You remember the talk we had at Mrs. Toplady's, that
evening. I know my own qualities, and see no use in pretending that I
don't.--But what are we talking about! Of course you care nothing for
Dymchurch. I know that very well. If you did, you wouldn't be here."

He ended on a little laugh of triumph, and therewith, catching hold of
both her hands, he drew her gently forward, looked close into her face,
murmured "May! My beautiful May!" In that moment there came the
strangest look upon May's countenance, a look of alarm, almost of
terror. Her eyes were turned to a spot among the trees, some ten yards
away. Dyce, seeing the sudden change of her expression, turned in the
direction of her gaze. He was just in time to perceive the back of a
retreating figure, which disappeared behind bushes.

"Who was that?" he asked in a startled voice.

May could only whisper.

"It was Lord Dymchurch."

"I thought so. Confound that fellow! What is he doing here at this time
of the morning?"

"He saw us," said May, her cheeks burning. "Oh, who could have
expected--! He saw us distinctly. I shouldn't wonder if he heard what
you were saying Why," she added, angrily, "did you speak so loud?"

"Nonsense! He couldn't hear at that distance."

"But he had been nearer."

"Then the fellow is a sneak! What right has he to steal upon us?"

"He didn't!" cried the girl. "I saw him as he stopped. I saw hi