“Seriously, do you think, if I made a raid on Manchester Square some morning, I could coax back her old feeling for me?”

“I think you will be quite safe in calling, at all events.  Tell me what day you intend to venture.  I know my mother will not oppose me if I shew that I wish you to be kindly received.”

“Most disinterested of you.  Thank you:  I will fail or succeed on my own merits, not on your recommendation.  You must not say a word to her about me or my project.”

“If you command me not to——­”

“I do command you.”

“I must obey.  But I fear that the more submissive I am, the more imperious you will become.”

“Very likely.  And now look along that avenue to the left.  Do you see a man in a brown suit, with straw hat to match, walking towards us at a regular pace, and keeping in a perfectly straight course?  He looks at everybody he passes as if he were counting them.”

“He is looking back at somebody now, as if he had missed the number.”

“Just so; but that somebody is a woman; doubtless a pretty one, probably dark.  You recognize him, I see.  There is a frost come over you which convinces me that you are preparing to receive him in your old ungracious way.  I warn you that I am accustomed to see Ned made much of.  He has caught sight of us.”

“And has just remarked that there is a man talking to his wife.”

“Quite right.  See his speculative air!  Now he no longer attends to us.  He is looking at the passers-by as before.  That means that he has recognized you, and has stowed the observation compactly away in his brain, to be referred to when he comes up to us.”

“So much method must economize his intellect very profitably.  How do you do, Mr. Conolly?  It is some time since we have had the pleasure of meeting.”

“Glad to see you, Mr. Douglas.  We have been away all the winter.  Are you staying in London?”

“Yes.”

“I hope you will spend an occasional hour with us at Holland Park.”

“You are very kind.  Thank you:  yes, if Mrs. Conolly will permit me.”

“I should make you come home with us now,” said Marian, “but for this Sunday being a special occasion.  Nelly McQuinch is to spend the evening with us; and as I have not seen her since we came back, I must have her all to myself.  Come next Sunday, if you care to.”

“Do,” said Conolly.  “Half past three is our Sunday hour.  If you cannot face that, we are usually at home afterwards the entire evening.  Marian:  we have exactly fifteen minutes to catch our train.”

“Oh! let us fly.  If we miss it, Nelly will be kept waiting half an hour.”

Then they parted, Douglas promising to come to them on that day week.

“Dont you think he is growing very fat?” said she, as they walked away.

“Yes.  He is beginning to take the world easily.  He does not seem to be making much of his life.”