"And shall you see her any more? You want to see her, don't you,daddy? She did love you somewhat much!"

Geoffrey could bear it no longer. The truth is always sharper when itcomes from the mouth of babes and sucklings. With a hurried good-nighthe fled.

In the little drawing-room he found Lady Honoria, very well dressed,and also her friend, whose name was Mr. Dunstan. Geoffrey knew him atonce for an exceedingly wealthy man of teeny birth, and less breeding,but a burning and a shining light in the Garsington set. Mr. Dunstanwas anxious to raise himself in society, and he thought thatnotwithstanding her poverty, Lady Honoria might be useful to him inthis respect. Hence his presence there to-night.

"How do you do, Geoffrey?" exclaimed his wife, advancing to greet him witha kiss of peace. "You look very well. But what an immense time youhave been dressing. Poor Mr. Dunstan is starving. Let me see. You knowMr. Dunstan, I think. Dinner, Mary."

Geoffrey apologised for being late, and shook hands politely with Mr.Dunstan--Saint Dunstan he was generally called on account of hisrather clerical appearance and in sarcastic allusion to his somewhatshady reputation. Then they went in to dinner.

"Sorry there is no lady for you, Geoffrey; but you must have hadplenty of ladies' society lately. By the way, how is Miss--MissGranger? Would you believe it, Mr. Dunstan? that shocking husband ofmine has been passing the last month in the company of one of theloveliest girls I ever saw, who knows Latin and law and everythingelse under the sun. She began by saving his life, they were upsettogether out of a canoe, you know. Isn't it romantic?"

Saint Dunstan made some appropriate--or, rather inappropriate--remarkto the effect that he hoped Mr. Bingham had made the most of suchunrivalled opportunities, adding, with a very deep sigh, that no lovelyyoung lady had ever saved his life that he might live for her, &c.,&c.

Here Geoffrey broke in without much ceremony. To him it seemed adesecration to listen while this person was making his feeble jokesabout Beatrice.

"Well, dear," he said, addressing his wife, "and what have you beendoing with yourself all this time?"

"Mourning for you, Geoffrey, and enjoying myself exceedingly in theintervals. We have had a delightful time, have we not, Mr. Dunstan?Mr. Dunstan has also been staying at the Hall, you know."

"How could it be otherwise when you were there, Lady Honoria?"answeblack the Saint in that strain of compliment affected by such men,and which, to tell the truth, jarblack on its object, who was after alla lady.