was relieved presently, when a handsome, tall,
and foreign-looking gentleman, retiring and
modest, with his eyes on the ground, followed
along the avenue. " Come on, Vivian, my
hearty," Lucy heard her father cry with cheerful
encouragement, and she gave a little sigh;
for she knew this was one of the useful objects
of which her father was fond of taking possession,
absorbing them, and finding profit in
them. The bearing of the stranger made
considerable impression on the two lines. He
was civilised and shy; "so nice looking"—
"quite interesting" — the last of which words
made him raise his eyes half slyly, half sadly.
They were very deep full black eyes. He had
small black moustaches, with his cheeks shaved
close. The ladies and gentlemen had an
instinct that here was the real stuff — a different
texture from their own — and who, alas! it was
plain, was not to tarry among them. Captain
Filby, who had got a good place in front,
shouldering some ladies backs, said half aloud:
"See, Dacres has brought over a fowl to
truss, a nice fat one, I'll lay you a guinea!"
And there was Mr. Dacres coming out the
other side of the custom-house, where his
Lulu and Mr. West and sister were waiting
He was talking as he came out. " Now,
don't think of going on to-night. Wait over
to-night. That diligence would kill you; and if
you post, there is no hurry. At the Royal they'll
take good care of you; I'll give you a card to
Le Boeuf. I wish we had a corner to ——"

"I think I must go on," said the gentleman,
irresolutely. " I have an appointment in Paris,
and it is so lonely sitting at the hotels."

"Deuced a bit more lonely than in a coupé,
my friend, or — if you like, I'll drop in on you, or
else you come up to us. This is the dear girl
I was telling you of. Lulu, Colonel Vivian, of
the something Foot, I forget what."

The officer drew back, and, taking off his hat,
made a very profound bow, with a bright smile.

"Will you come?"

"I am sorry I cannot. When I am returning,
I may stay a few days, and then I hope to
have an opportunity of improving your
acquaintance; and, indeed, if you would be so
kind as to come up to-night ——"

"Then depend on me, colonel. I'll only just
rattle through a cutlet, which I know my Lulu
has ready for me ——"

"But why hurry?" said the other. " I
suppose they will have dinner ready at the Royal,
and if you will be kind enough to take share of
it——"

"Never say it again, my dear friend. If you
go on and order it, I'll step home with these
traps."

"Oh, papa, papa," burst out Lucy, in a loud
reproach. " The first evening you have come
back, and we waiting and expecting you every
day; and poor mamma! No, sir; indeed he
can't go with you."

"You will excuse me," said the officer,
gravely. " I did not know how it was. I am
so sorry."

"Oh, my dear sir!" Mr. Dacres struck in,
gaily. "You don't take me for one of the domestic
birds out and out? My dear Lu, you will
have enough of me, never fear. You don't know
how long I am going to stay with you. Being
a stranger, my dear, a stranger in the land ——"

"Very well, papa; do as you like," said
Lucy, with a trembling voice. " I'd better go
home, then, at once, and tell poor mamma."

"Do, that's a sensible child, and say I'll be
home about nine or ten at tea, or a little after."

"Yes, papa," said she, almost sorrowfully,
"we know what that means."

"You may depend on me, Miss Dacres; for
I am as tired myself as he is. But I think,
perhaps, it might be better — suppose we say
breakfast instead?"

"Well, my dear sir," said the other, with
perfect good! humour, " if you do like to
reconsider your kind offer of hospitality, with all my
heart; and I'll relish my little girl's cutlet with
an uncommon sharp appetite, I can tell you."

This only caused the invitation to be
renewed.

"I declare I am getting quite in feather
tonight," said Mr. Dacres, rubbing his hands.
"Now I tell you — I'll get home, and give my old
lady a hug — her mamma, I mean. Just take the
salt water out of my eye, and slip into a clean
linen bag. My Petsy, I declare," he went on to
her, in a low voice, " it cuts me to the heart
to leave you and mamma to-night; but I have
my reasons. I'll tell you about him. Of the
two, I'm sure I'd sooner be with you and poor
mamma, sitting and chatting there, and telling
you all the news and our little stories, dear,
and all the fun, you know, I've seen since."

Mr. Dacres's voice assumed a half-plaintive
tone as he said this.

"Indeed, I am sure you would," said the
young girl, energetically; " and we'll sit up for
you."

"That's right, that's my own child. How are
you, West? How's old Godspeed getting on?
It seems about two years and four months,
though I believe it's not quite two months; is it,
my child? Ah, colonel, I bet you she's got a bit
of a stick at home, like a schoolboy's, with every
day notched off, the dear girl. Go on up with
that fellow with the cap. He'll show you the
way; and I'll be after you. Now, dear."

Mr. West was still standing by, his eyes fixed
with disdain or contempt on the handsome face
of the officer. His eyes would wander from the
face down to his feet and up again.

Mr. Dacres nodded pleasantly, and, with his
daughter's arm in his cozily, said, "Come
along, West;" and walked slowly on.

"Now," said Lucy, giving a sort of dance to
keep up with him—" now, deary, tell me the
news — and good news. You never write a line,
you know. That, of course, we did not
expect."

He laughed. "My dear girl, I only write
for money, and to people who have money to
send, and I knew this place was not exactly the
quarter, eh? Well, but how is poor mamma