which evening-dress wholly failed to conceal, entered, and
instinctively Sylvia rose to receive him.

Mrs. Ingleton stopped short and stared as they met in the middle of
the room.

"Hullo, Sylvia!" said the little man, and stamped forward as if he
had just dismounted after a long ride. He had a loud voice and an
assertive manner, and Mrs. Ingleton gazed at him in frozen surprise.

Sylvia turned towards her. "May I introduce Mr. Preston--the
M.F.H.?" Her tone was cold. If the newcomer's advent had been a
welcome diversion it obviously gave her no pleasure.

Preston, however, plainly did not stand in need of any
encouragement. He strode up to Mrs. Ingleton, confronting her with
aggressive self-assurance, "Delighted to meet you, madam. You are
Sylvia's step-mother, I presume? I hope we shall be more nearly
connected before long. Anyone belongin' to Sylvia has my highest
esteem. She has the straightest seat on a horse of any woman I
know. Ingleton and I between us taught her all she knows about
huntin', and she does us credit, by gad!"

He winked at Mrs. Ingleton as he ended, and Sylvia bit her lip.
Mrs. Ingleton, however, held out her hand.

"Pray sit down, Mr. Preston! You are most welcome. Sylvia, my
dear, will you find the cigarettes?"

Sylvia took a box from the table and handed it to him. He took it