protested against, yet grown indispensable,
had just come in. He always went out
like a chiffonnier, with a basket on his back
to collect news. "A pic-nic of two
hundred over the grounds this morning, the
gardener says." "And not a leaf touched,"
said her father, coming in after Dudley.

"Very kind of them," cried his daughter.

"I fear, dearest, we must keep up Laura
Bridge after all. These honest people are
establishing fresh claims on us every day.
And I hear they are going to present you
with a silver bowl, or something in the
shape of a bridge. I just got a hint of it."

This quite turned her thoughts. She
was full of eagerness and curiosity, and
clapped her hands with delight.

"Dear, goodie papa, do find out for me.
I want to see it quick. I am dying to
know."

"I'll make it out to-day for you," said
Dudley.

"Do you know, I fear, dear, it would
look ungracious to pull the bridge down
after so generous an intention. You would
not like to be unpopular, dear?"

"No, no; if they are such nice people,
poor creatures, why should we keep them
out? I don't like to see them all
scattered about on nice gardens, and pouring
over my bridge like ants; but——"

"Good child, you have quite delighted
me! It was making me wretched. You
know, as landowners, we must be
considerate to the lower class, even at
inconvenience to ourselves. Tell me, dear.
I am sending up to town, would you like
the decorator down? As you don't like
your new boudoir, we shall have the man
here again. By the way, dear, we are
having this dinner party. Bailey and
daughter——"

"Yes: she said she'd come. I'm so
glad."

"That little sparring excites you," said
Dudley. "By the way, Conway told me
he was coming up here."

"As gentlemanly a man as ever I
met. We must ask him to dinner. So
well informed, and clever, and good-looking
too. There, chick, I wish you'd throw
the handkerchief at him. I know his
father well: good blood—fine old family,
though extravagant."

"I think him a coxcomb, and would not
walk on the same side of the street with
him."

"There's not much chance of him. He's
in the æsthetic country; and those Baileys
have seized on him body and soul. He is
always up there, and selfish 'Old Bailey'
has half sunk a dozen boats going out to
drink sherry on board the yacht. That
scheming Miss Jessica has the whole sum
set down in figures in an account-book, and
she will regularly 'tot it up' until he is
caught."

"Jessica win him! Lord Formanton's
son! It is a folly, and impossible," said
the heiress, excitedly.

"I am sure it is," said Dudley. "Yet
she is very deep and clever, and if she
once sets her mind on a thing, I declare it
is quite on the cards. He made some
speech to me about her being so dramatic;
and I know the yacht has not had orders
for sailing. She is not the first parson's
daughter that has drawn a peer out of the
river."

Miss Panton listened with kindling eyes.
"She! she! How dare you even think
of such a thing? We will not have it—
she shall be exposed. She thinks that
will put her on a level with me. I tell
you, papa, and Dudley, it must not be, and
you must see and prevent it!"

She looked over angrily at Dudley;
she was now walking up and down the
room in a high state of excitement, her
lips working as if speaking, her eyes darting
from one side to the other. Her father
soothed her. Dudley, looking out of the
window, said slowly:

"Well! here, now, is Conway himself."

CHAPTER IX. A VISIT.

CONWAY had ridden out, and was now
entering, calm, composed, and handsome.
The young heiress looked up, and advanced
to meet him with a sudden eagerness of
welcome. Dudley smiled as he saw this
change. Conway had on his best man-of-
the-world suit, let off his various
conversational fireworks, determining, as his habit
was, to make a good effect, and leave behind
him a delightful impression of regret. The
eyes of the heiress were fastened on him all
the time.

He had been tempted out there by the
piquant accounts he had been hearing of
the vendetta between the two girls. He
half purposely began to speak of the
clergyman and his family. "His daughter is
a very remarkable person, with such a
thoughtful and original mind. She should
be in a larger field."

The heiress moved impatiently.

"Yes, Jessica talks like a book, or
sometimes like a man, they say."