ppearance of the girl's head through the
window was followed by simultaneous exclamations of astonishment.
Exclamations of recognition, too, for the new-comer was none other than
Captain Guest himself, most obviously equipped for town.

"Miss Briskett--is that you?"

"Mussy, what a turn you gave me! Who'd have dreamt of meeting you
here?"

"Are you going up to town?"

"I am! Are you?"

"I am! Do you prefer to travel alone? If not, may I come in?"

"Why, suttenly!" Cornelia was not yet quite sure whether she were
annoyed or pleased by the encounter, but on the whole the agreeable
element predominated. She was of a gregarious nature, and at any time
preferred to talk, rather than remain silent. After a month spent in a
strictly feminine household, the society of a male man was an agreeable
novelty. Moreover--sweet triumph to a daughter of Eve!--half an hour's
_tete-a-tete_ on the drive home from the Manor had apparently made short
work of the Captain's preconceived dislike, since he was so anxious to
repeat the dose! Cornelia smiled; the naughty, little smile of a spider
who welcomes a fly into his net.

Another minute, and the train was movings lowly out of the station,
while the two young people continued their cross-examination,
confronting each other from their separate corners.

"This is an unexpected visit, is it not? I understood from Miss Ramsden
that she expected you to call at the Manor to-day or to-morrow."

(Cornelia scored a point against him, for his own desertion, in the face
of so interesting a prospect!)

"Vury unexpected! I got a wire from a friend and came off within two
hours. I understood from Mrs Greville that _you_ were making quite a
good stay?"

Guest grimaced eloquently.

"I was--but--circumstances alter cases! To tell you the honest truth,
Miss Briskett, I'm just a bit fed up with playing gooseberry by day, and
piquet (with Madame!) by night, and the idea of spending a few days at
the club presented itself as an agreeable novelty. My friends are
almost all in town just now, and there is a good deal going on. I
generally put in a week or so of the season, so I thought I might as
well clear out at once. They don't want me here!"

"I don't know about that," returned Cornelia, thoughtfully. "What about
Madame? _Someone's_ got to keep her occupied! What's to happen to her
in the evenings now? There'll be nothing for it but a three-handed
game, and that's the limit