‘From the moment of first sight,’ said Louis; ’the fine spark was lighted on the Euston Square platform; and it was not much later with her.  He filled up her beau ideal of goodness—­’

’And, in effect, all Lady Conway’s pursuit of you threw them together,’ said Lord Ormersfield, much entertained.

’Lady Conway has been their very best friend, without intending it.  It would not have come to a crisis by this time, if she had not taken me to Paris.  It would have been a pity if the catastrophe of the barricades had been all for nothing.’

Lord Ormersfield and Mary here broke out in amazement at themselves, for having hitherto been oblivious of the intelligence that had greeted them on their first arrival, when Frampton had informed them of Lord Fitzjocelyn’s wound and gallant conduct, and his father had listened to the story like the fastening of a rivet in Miss Conway’s chains, and Mary with a flush of unselfish pride that Isabel had been taught to value her hero.  They both claimed the true and detailed account, as if they had hitherto been defrauded of it, and insisted on hearing what had happened to him.

‘I dare say you know best,’ said Louis, lazily.  ’I have heard so many different accounts of late, that I really am beginning to forget which is the right one, and rather incline to the belief that Delaford brought a rescue or two with his revolver, and carried us into a fortress where my aunt had secured the windows with feather-beds—­’

’You had better make haste and tell, that the true edition may be preserved,’ said Mary, rallying her spirits in her eagerness.

’I have begun to understand why there never yet has been an authentic account of a great battle,’ said Louis.  ’Life would make me coincide with Sir Robert Walpole’s judgment on history.  All I am clear about is, that even a Red Republican is less red than he is painted; that Isabel Conway is fit to visit the sentinels in a beleaguered castle—­ a noble being—­ But oh, Mary! did I not long sorely after you when. it came to the wounded knight part of the affair!  I am more sure of that than of anything else!’

Mary blushed, but her tender heart was chiefly caring to know how much he had been hurt, and so the whole story was unfolded by due questioning; and the Earl had full and secret enjoyment of the signal defeat of his dear sister-in-law, the one satisfaction on which every one seemed agreed.

It was a melancholy certainty that Mary must go to Mrs. Frost, but the Earl deferred the moment by sending the carriage with an entreaty that she would come herself to fetch her guest.  Mary talked of writing a note; but the autumn sun shone cheerily on the steps, and Louis wiled her into seating herself on the upper step, while he reclined on the lower ones, as they had so often been placed when this was his only way of enjoying the air.  The sky was clear, the air had the still calm of autumn, the evergreens and