Dymchurch got away from this chatter, and stood aside.  Then Miss Tomalin’s radiant glance discovered him; she broke from the lady with whom she was conversing, and stepped in his direction with a look of frank pleasure.

“How do you do, Lord Dymchurch!  I came early, to lunch with Lady Honeybourne and some of her actors.  We have been getting on together splendidly.  Let us settle our places.  Mrs. Toplady may be a little late; we must keep a chair for her.  Which do you prefer?—­Isn’t it admirably managed?  This big tree will give shade all the time.  Suppose we take these chairs?  Of course we needn’t sit down at once.  Put your cane across two, and I’ll tie my handkerchief on the third.  There!  Now we’re safe.—­Did you ever see an open-air play before?  Charming idea, isn’t it?  You don’t know Lady Honeybourne very well, I think?  Oh, she’s very bright, and has lots of ideas.  I think we shall be real friends.  She must come down to Rivenoak in August.”

“I’m sorry,” interposed Dymchurch, as soon as there came a pause, “that Lady Ogram had to leave town so soon.”

“Oh, it was too much for her.  I advised her very seriously, as soon as she began to feel exhausted, not to stay another day.  Indeed, I couldn’t have allowed it; I’m convinced it was dangerous, in her state of health.  I hear from her that she is already much better.  Rivenoak is such a delightfully quiet place, and such excellent air.  Did you see a report of Mr. Lashmar’s speech?  Rather good, I thought.  Perhaps just a little too vague:  the fault I hoped he would avoid.  But of course it’s very difficult to adapt oneself all at once to electioneering necessities.  Mr. Lashmar is theoretical; of course that is his strong point.”

Dymchurch listened with an air of respectful, though smiling, attention.  The girl amused him more than ever.  Really, she had such a pleasant voice that her limitless flow of words might well be pardoned, even enjoyed.

“Lady Honeybourne and I have been talking about the condition of the poor.  She has capital ideas, but not much experience.  Of course I am able to speak with some authority:  I saw so much of the poor at Northampton.”

Once or twice Dymchurch had heard mention of Northampton in May’s talk, but his extreme discretion had withheld him from putting a question on the subject.  Catching his look, she saw inquiry in it.

“You know that I lived at Northampton, before I made my home at Rivenoak?  Oh, I thought that I had told you all about that.”

Acting on her aunt’s counsel, approved by Mrs. Toplady, May was careful not to let it be perceived by casual acquaintances that, until a month ago, she had been an absolute stranger to her titled relative.  At the same time, it was necessary to avoid any appearance of mystery, and people were given to understand that she had passed some years with her family in the midland town.

“And what work did you take part in?” asked her companion.