was rather coarsely baited; it would hardly have deceived
the most guileless and unsuspecting. Harold Purling at a glance could
read between the lines; he could trace effect to cause, and readily
understood why his mother was so anxious for his return.

"One of Lady Gayfeather's girls, is she? I never thought much of that
lot. However--but why on earth should Lady Calverly take my dear
mother up in this way, at the eleventh hour?"

He would have wondered yet more if he had seen how cordially Mrs.
Purling had been welcomed to Compton Revel.

"It is so good of you to come to us," Lady Calverly said, with
effusion. "We are so glad to have you here, and have looked forward to
it for so long."

For about seventeen years, in fact, during which time Lord and Lady
Calverly had completely ignored the existence of their near neighbour,
Mrs. Purling. Compton Revel might have been a paradise, and the
heiress an exiled peri waiting at the gates.

The party assembled was after Mrs. Purling's own heart. They were all
great people, at least in name; and the heiress of the Purlings was
heard to murmur that she did like to be in such good society--she felt
so perfectly at home. And they all made much of her. One night she
was handed in to dinner by a Duke, another by an ex-Cabinet Minister.
The latter made her feel proud, for the first time in her life, of her
son, and the line he had adopted so sorely against her will.

"Mr. Purling's paper on toxicology," he said, "is quite the cleverest
thing that has appeared on the subject. My friend, Sir William--,"
he mentioned a physician of world-wide repute, "considers that Mr.
Purling will go far."

Lady Calverly followed suit by declaring that Mr. Purling was a
pattern young man, everyone gave him so good a character. They _did_
hope to see him at Compton Revel directly he got back to England.

Then Miss Fanshawe metaphorically prostrated herself before Mrs.
Purling, and by judicious phrases and ready sympathy completely won
her good-will.

"You certainly made an impression upon her, Phillipa," said Lady
Calverly afterwards.

"She is a vain and rather silly old woman," Miss Fanshawe replied.
Language that might have opened Mrs. Purling's eyes.

"But I am very glad you became such good friends. Purlington is a very
desirable place."

Here, then, was a faint clue to the mystery of Mrs. Purling's tardy
reception at Compton Revel. Intrigue--not necessarily base, but
covered by th