has come to England chiefly with reference to the affairs of Lord Ongar.  I want you to hear his story.  As far as I have known him he is a truth-telling man, though I do not know that I am able to say much more in his favor.  Ever yours, J. O.

When he had read this he was quite an altered man.  See Count Pateroff!  Of course he would see him.  What task could be more fitting for a friend than this, of seeing such a man under such circumstances.  Before he left London he wrote a note for Count Pateroff, to be given to the count by the people at the lodgings should he call during Harry’s absence from London.  In this he explained that he would be at Clavering for a fortnight, but expressed himself ready to come up to London at a day’s notice should Count Pateroff be necessitated again to leave London before the day named.

As he went about his business that day, and as he journeyed down to Stratton, he entertained much kinder ideas about Lady Ongar than he had previously done since seeing Count Pateroff’s card.

Chapter X

Florence Burton at the Rectory

Harry Clavering went down to Stratton, slept one night at old Mr. Burton’s house, and drove Florence over to Clavering—­twenty miles across the country, on the following day.  This journey together had been looked forward to with great delight by both of them, and Florence in spite of the snubbing which she had received from her lover because of her prudence, was very happy as she seated herself alongside of him in the vehicle which had been sent over from the rectory, and which he called a trap.  Not a word had as yet been said between them as to that snubbing, nor was Harry minded that anything should be said.  He meant to carry on his revenge by being dumb on that subject.  But such was not Florence’s intention.  She desired not only to have her own way in this matter, but desired also that he should assent to her arrangements.

It was a charming day for such a journey.  It was cold, but not cold enough to make them uncomfortable.  There was a wind, but not wind enough to torment them.  Once there came on a little shower, which just sufficed to give Harry an opportunity of wrapping his companion very closely, but he had hardly completed the ceremony before the necessity for it was over.  They both agreed that this mode of travelling was infinitely preferable to a journey by railroad, and I myself should be of the name opinion if one could always make one’s journeys under the same circumstances.  And it must be understood that Harry, though no doubt he was still taking his revenge on Florence by abstaining from all allusion to her letter, was not disposed to make himself otherwise disagreeable.  He played his part of lover very well, and Florence was supremely happy.

“Harry,” she said, when the journey was more than half completed, “you never told me what you thought of my letter.”