bitterly. Lady
Linden does not say what about, and they have never been together since.
A little while ago she received a letter from Miss Meredyth, as she
still continues to call herself, asking her assistance in finding work
for her to do. And that reminds me, General, that a similar letter was
addressed to you by Miss Meredyth, which I sent on to you at Harrogate."

"Must have got there after I left. I never had it--go on!"

"Lady Linden urges you to do something for the young lady, and do all in
your power to bring her and Mr. Alston together. She says if you could
effect a surprise meeting between them, good may come of it. She is
under the impression that they will not meet intentionally. Miss
Meredyth's address is, 7 Bemrose Square, and Mr. Alston is staying at
The Northborough Hotel, St. James. Of course, there is a good deal
besides in the letter, General--"

"Of course!" the General said. "There always is. Well, Hudson, we must
do something. I knew the girl's father, and the boy's too. Tom Meredyth
was a fine fellow, reckless and a spendthrift, by George! but as
straight a man and as true a gentleman as ever walked. And old George
Alston was one of my best friends, Hudson. We must do something for
these two young idiots."

"Very good, sir!" said Hudson. "How shall we proceed?"

The General did not answer; he sat deep in thought.

"Hudson, I am getting to be a forgetful old fool," he said. "I'm getting
old, that's what it is. Before I went to Harrogate I was with Rankin, my
solicitor. He was talking to me about the Meredyths. I forget exactly
what it was, but there's some money coming to the girl from Bob
Meredyth, who went out to Australia. No, I forget, but some money I
know, and now the girl apparently wants it, if she is asking for
influence to get work. Go and ring Rankin up on the telephone. Don't
tell him we know where Joan Meredyth is, but give him my compliments,
and ask him to repeat what he told me the other day."

Hudson went out. He was gone ten minutes, while the General dozed in a
chair. He was thinking of the past, of those good old days when he and
Tom Meredyth, the girl's father, and George Alston, the lad's father,
were all young fellows together. Ah, good old days, fine old days! When
the young blood coursed strong and hot in the veins, when there was no
need of Harrogate waters, when the limbs were supple and strong, and the
eyes bright and clear. "And they are gone," the old man mu