hen he walked in. He looked pale and jaded as he sat down wearily
by us at the open window and stroked the cat, which was taking the air
on the sill. He said that he felt the heat, and he certainly look very
much knocked up. I do not feel heat myself, I am glad to say.

"I am going abroad to-morrow," he said, after a few remarks on other
subjects. "It is not merely a question of pleasure, though I shall be
glad to be out of London; but I have of late become an object of such
increasing interest to those who possess my autograph that I have
decided on taking change of air for a time."

"Do you mean to say you are not going down to Stoke Moreton for Ralph's
wedding?" I exclaimed. "I thought we should have travelled together, as
we once did six months ago."

"I can't go," said Charles, almost sharply. "I have told Ralph so."

"I am sure he will be very much disappointed, and Evelyn too; and the
wedding being from her uncle's house, as she has no home of her own,
will make your absence all the more marked."

"It _must_ be marked, then; but the young people will survive it, and
Aunt Mary will be thankful. She has not spoken to me since I made that
little call upon her in the spring. When I pass her carriage in the Row
she looks the other way."

"I am glad Ralph has consoled himself," I said. "A good and charming
woman like Evelyn, and a nice steady fellow like Ralph, are bound to be
happy together."

"Yes," said Charles, "I suppose they are. She deserves to be happy. She
always liked Ralph, and he _is_ a good fellow. The model young men make
all the running nowadays. In novels the good woman always marries the
scapegrace, but it does not seem to be the case in real life."

"Anyhow, not in this instance," I remarked, cheerfully.

"No, not in this instance, as you so justly observe," he replied, with a
passing gleam of amusement in his restless, tired eyes. "And now,"
producing a small packet, "as I am not going myself, I want to give my
wedding-present to the bride into your charge. Perhaps you will take it
down to-morrow, and give it into her own hands, with my best wishes."

"Might we see it first?" said Jane, with all a woman's curiosity,
evidently scenting a jewel-case from afar.

Charles unwrapped a small morocco case, and, touching a spring, showed
the diamond crescent, beautifully reset and polished, blazing on its red
satin couch.

"Ralph said I should have it, and he sent it me some time since," he
said