him no longer. Lady Randolph had gone to her own
room after her cup of tea, for that little nap before dinner which was
essential to her good looks and pleasantness in the evening. Sir Tom,
who was too much disturbed for the usual rules of domestic life, had not
come in for that twilight talk which he usually enjoyed; and as Lucy
found herself thus plunged into the danger she dreaded, she was hurrying
after Lady Randolph, declaring that she heard baby cry, when Jock
stepped into her way, and detained her, if not by physical, at least by
moral force--

"Lucy," he said, "are you not going to tell me anything? I know you have
got the letter, but you won't look at me, or speak a word."

"Oh, Jock, how silly! why shouldn't I look at you? but I have so many
things to do, and baby--I am sure I heard baby cry."

"He is no more crying than I am. I saw him, and he was as jolly as
possible. I want awfully to know about the Churchills, and what MTutor
says."

"Jock, I think Mr. Derwentwater is rather grand in his writing. It looks
as if he thought a great deal of himself."

"No, he doesn't," said Jock, hotly, "not half enough. He's the best man
we've got, and yet he can't see it. You needn't give me any information
about MTutor," added the young gentleman, "for naturally I know all that
much better than you. But I want to know about the Churchills. Lucy, is
it all right?"

Lucy gave a little shiver though she was in front of the fire. She said,
reluctantly, "I think they seem very nice people, Jock."

"I know they are," said Jock, exultantly. "Churchill in college is the
nicest fellow I know. He read such a paper at the Poetical Society. It
was on the Method of Sophocles; but of course you would not understand
that."

"No, dear," said Lucy, mildly; and again she murmured something about
the baby crying, "I think indeed, Jock, I must go."

"Just a moment," said the boy, "Now you are satisfied couldn't we drive
into Farafield to-morrow and settle about it? I want to go with you, you
and I together, and if old Rushton makes a row you can just call me."

"But I can't leave Lady Randolph, Jock," cried Lucy, driven to her wits'
end. "It would be unkind to leave her, and a few days cannot do much
harm. When she has gone away----"

"I shall be back at school. Let Sir Tom take her out for once. He might
as well drive her in his new phaeton that he is so proud of. If it is
fine she'll like that, and we can say we have some busi