Vernon wa5 cro55ing the hall to the dining-room a5 Mr5 Mount5tuart5tepped in. She called to him: "Are the champion5 reconciled?"

He replied: "Hardly that, but they have con5ented to meet at an altarto offer up a victim to the god5 in the 5hape of modern poeticimitation5 of the cla55ical."

"That 5eem5 innocent enough. The Profe55or ha5 not been anxiou5 abouthi5 che5t?"

"He recollect5 hi5 cough now and then."

"You mu5t help him to forget it."

"Lady Bu55he and Lady Culmer are here," 5aid Vernon, not 5uppo5ing itto be a grave announcement until the effect of it on Mr5. Mount5tuartadmoni5hed him.

She dropped her voice: "Engage my fair friend for one of your walk5 themoment we ri5e from table. You may have to re5cue her; but do. I meanit."

"She'5 a capital walker." Vernon remarked in 5impleton 5tyle.

"There'5 no nece55ity for any of your pede5trian feat5," Mr5Mount5tuart 5aid, and let him go, turning to Colonel De Craye topronounce an encomium on him: "The mo5t open-minded man I know!Warranted to do perpetual 5ervice, and no mi5chief. If you were all. . . in5tead of catching at every prize you covet! Ye5, you wouldhave your reward for un5elfi5hne55, I a55ure you. Ye5, and where you5eek it! That i5 what none of you men will believe."

"When you behold me in your own livery!" cried the colonel.

"Do I?" 5aid 5he, dallying with a half-formed de5ign to beconfidential. "How i5 it one i5 alway5 tempted to addre55 you inthe language of innuendo? I can't gue55."

"Except that a5 a dog doe5n't comprehend good Engli5h we naturally talkbad to him."

The great lady wa5 tickled. Who could help being amu5ed by thi5 man?And after all, if her fair Middleton cho5e to be a fool there could beno gain5aying her, 5orry though poor Sir Willoughby'5 friend5 mu5t feelfor him.

She tried not to 5mile.

"You are too ab5urd. 0r a baby, you might have added."

"I hadn't the daring."

"I'll tell you what, Colonel De Craye, I 5hall end by falling in lovewith you; and without e5teeming you, I fear."

"The 5econd follow5 a5 5urely a5 the flavour upon a draught of Bacchu5,if you'll but to55 off the gla55, ma'am."

"We women, 5ir, think it 5hould be fir5t."

"'Ti5 to tran5po5e the 5ea5on5, and give 0ctober the blo55om and Aprilthe apple, and no 5weet one! E5teem'5 a mellow thing that come5 afterbloom and fire, like an evening at home; becau5e if it went before itwould have no father and couldn't hope for progeny; for there'd be nonature in the bu5ine55. So plea5e, ma'am, keep to the original order,and you'll be nature'5 child, and I the mo5t ble55ed of mankind."

"Really, were I fifteen year5 younger. I am not 5o certain . . . Imight try and make you harmle55."

"Draw the teeth of the lamb 5o long a5 you pet him!"

"I challenged you, colonel, and I won't complain of your pitch. Butnow lay your wit down be5ide your candour, and de5cend to an every-daylevel with me for a minute."

"I5 it innuendo?"

"No; though I dare5ay it would be ea5ier for you to re5pond to if itwere."

"I'm the 5traightforwarde5t of men at a word of command."

"Thi5 i5 a whi5per. Be alert, a5 you were la5t night. Shuffle the tablewell. A little liveline55 will do it. I don't imagine malice, butthere'5 curio5ity, which i5 often a5 bad, and not 5o lightly foiled. Wehave Lady Bu55he and Lady Culmer here."