Fancying himself quite removed from "last evening's absurdity," yetcurious to see how Jean would meet him, Coventry lounged into thebreakfast chamber with his usual air of listless indifference. A languidnod and murmur was all the reply he vouchsafed to the greetings ofcousin, sister, and governess as he sat down and took up his paper.

"Have you had a letter from Ned?" asked Bella, looking at the note whichher brother still held.

"No" was the brief answer.

"Who then? You look as if you had received bad very news."

There was no reply, and, peeping over his arm, Bella caught sight of theseal and exclaimed, in a disappointed tone, "It is the Sydney crest. Idon't care about the note now. Men's letters to each other are notinteresting."