of the shrubbery, calling irritably to his servant to
find Lady Lydiard.

Moody retired to the further end of the walk, while Lady Lydiard
advanced in the opposite direction, so as to meet Hardyman at the
entrance to the shrubbery. He bowed stiffly, and begged to know why her
Ladyship had honored him with a visit.

Lady Lydiard replied without noticing the coldness of her reception.

"I have not been very well, Mr. Hardyman, or you would have seen me
before this. My only object in presenting myself here is to make my
excuses personally for having written of you in terms which expressed
a doubt of your honor. I have done you an injustice, and I beg you to
forgive me."

Hardyman acknowledged this frank apology as unreservedly as it had been
offered to him. "Say no more, Lady Lydiard. And let me hope, now you are
here, that you will honor my little party with your presence."

Lady Lydiard gravely stated her reasons for not accepting the
invitation.

"I disapprove so strongly of unequal marriages," she said, walking
on slowly towards the cottage, "that I cannot, in common consistency,
become one of your guests. I shall always feel interested in Isabel
Miller's welfare; and I can honestly say I shall be glad if your married
life proves that my old-fashioned prejudices are without justification
in your case. Accept my thanks for your invitation; and let me hope that
my plain speaking has not offended you."

She bowed, and looked about her for Tommie before she advanced to the
carriage waiting for her at the gate. In the surprise of seeing
Moody she had forgotten to look back for the dog when she entered
the shrubbery. She now called to him, and blew the whistle at her
watch-chain. Not a sign of Tommie was to be seen. Hardyman instantly
directed the servants to search in the cottage and out of the cottage
for the dog. The order was obeyed with all needful activity and
intelligence, and entirely without success. For the time being at any
rate, Tommie was lost.

Hardyman promised to have the dog looked for in every part of the farm,
and to send him back in the care of one of his own men. With these
polite assurances Lady Lydiard was obliged to be satisfied. She drove
away in a very despondent frame of mind. "First Isabel, and now Tommie,"
thought her Ladyship. "I am losing the only companions who made life
tolerable to me."

Returning from the garden gate, after taking leave of his visitor,
Hardyman received from hi