“What!  Our Mr. Kingston Brooks?” Selina exclaimed.

“It’s Brooks, right enough,” Mr. Bullsom exclaimed.  “I called at his office yesterday, and they told me that he was out for the day.  Well, that licks me.”

Mary, who was reading a magazine in a secluded corner, looked up.

“I saw Mr. Brooks in the morning,” she remarked.  “He told me that he was going to Enton to dine and sleep.”

Selina looked at her cousin sharply.

“You saw Mr. Brooks?” she repeated.  “Where?”

“I met him,” Mary answered, coolly.  “He told me that Lord Arranmore had been very kind to him.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Louise asked.

“I really didn’t think of it,” Mary answered.  “It didn’t strike me as being anything extraordinary.”

“Not when he’s coming here to dine to-night,” Selina repeated, “and is a friend of papa’s!  Why, Mary, what nonsense.”

“I really don’t see anything to make a fuss about,” Mary said, going back to her magazine.

Mr. Bullsom drew himself up, and laid down the paper with the paragraph uppermost.

“Well, it is most gratifying to think that I gave that young man his first start,” he remarked.  “I believe, too, that he is not likely to forget it.”

“The bell!” Mrs. Bullsom exclaimed, with a little gasp.  “Some one has come.”

“Well, if they have, there’s nothing to be frightened about,” Mr. Bullsom retorted.  “Ain’t we expecting them to come?  Don’t look so scared, Sarah!  Take up a book, or something.  Why, bless my soul, you’re all of a tremble.”

“I can’t help it, Peter,” Mrs. Bullsom replied, nervously.  “I don’t know these people scarcely a bit, and I’m sure I shall do something foolish.  Selina, be sure you look at me when I’m to come away, and—­”

“Mr. Kingston Brooks.”

Brooks, ushered in by a neighbouring greengrocer, entered upon a scene of unexpected splendour.  Selina and her sister were gorgeous in green and pink respectively.  Mr. Bullsom’s shirt-front was a thing to wonder at.  There was an air of repressed excitement about everybody, except Mary, who welcomed him with a quiet smile.

“I am not much too early, I hope,” Brooks remarked.

“You’re in the nick of time,” Mr. Bullsom assured him.

Brooks endeavoured to secure a chair near Mary, which attempt Selina adroitly foiled.

“We’ve been reading all about your grandeur, Mr. Brooks,” she exclaimed.  “What a beautiful day you must have had at Enton.”

Brooks looked puzzled.

“It was very enjoyable,” he declared.  “I wanted to see you, Miss Scott,” he added, turning to Mary.  “I think that we can arrange that date for the lecture now.  How would Wednesday week do?”

“Admirably!” Mary answered.

“Do you know whom you take in, Mr. Brooks?” Selina interrupted.

Brooks glanced at the card in his hand.