Howard looked at him compassionately, and whistled softly.

"My dear old man," he said, with an air of reluctance, "you fly rather

high! The lady you speak of is the belle of the present season; she is

the admired of all admirers; belted earls, to say nothing of noble

dukes, are at her feet. She was the star of the ball which I have just

left. If I may say so, I think you were very unwise to leave such a

peerless pearl to be snapped up--"

Stafford turned away from him and stifled a groan.

"I might have know it," he said. "The belle of the season! Well, why

not? There is no one more beautiful, no one more sweet. Who am I that

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she should remember me? What am I--"

"Rather a foolish young man, if you ask me," said Howard. "If I'd been

in love with such a peerless creature, I shouldn't have left her to go

tramping after cattle in Australia."

"What else could I do?" exclaimed Stafford, sternly. "Have you

forgotten that I was not set free, that when--when death"--his voice

dropped--"set me free, that it was no time to speak of love to another

woman? I was obliged to go; but I've came back--too late, I suppose!

Don't say any more; let us talk of something else: you are looking

well. Howard."

"Yes, it's no use crying over spilt milk," said Howard, with a sigh.

"Oh, I'm all right. Look here, I'll put you up to-night; we're got a

spare room. Now, mix yourself another drink and light up another

cigar--not bad, are they--and tell me all you've been doing."

* * * * * At a quarter to four the following day Howard put in his appearance at

Lady Fitzharford's house in Eaton Square.

"Oh, I'm so glad you've come," she said: everybody was pleased to see

Howard; "you are just the man I want. That sweet creature, Miss Heron,

is coming here directly to try over some songs with me--I'm going to

sing at that Bazaar, you know--and as you know something of music--is

there anything you don't know, Mr. Howard?--you can give us your

opinion."

"With the greatest pleasure, my dear lady," responded Howard; "but on

two conditions: one, that you don't take my opinion; the other, that

you leave me alone with Miss Heron, directly she comes, for a quarter

of an hour."

Lady Fitzharford stared at him.

"Are you going to propose to her?" she asked, with a smile.




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