old Oxford inn. Annette was looking at the windows of the milliner's
shop next door.

"My mother shall do everything that is polite--everything in the world!
And when may I come to call? You have no faith in my manners, I know!"
laughed the young man. "How you did sit upon me at Cannes!" And again
his brilliant eyes, fixed upon her, seemed to be saying all sorts of
unspoken things.

"How has he been behaving lately?" said Constance drily, turning to Lord
Meyrick, who stood grinning.

"Just as usual! He's generally mad. Don't depend on him for anything.
But I hope you'll let me do anything I can for you! I should be only
too happy."

The girl perceived the eager admiration with which the young fellow was
regarding her, and her face relaxed.

"Thank you very much. Of course I know all about Mr. Falloden! At
Cannes, we made a league to keep him in order."

Falloden protested vehemently that he had been a persecuted victim at
Cannes; the butt of Lady Connie and all her friends.

Constance, however, cut the speech short by a careless nod and good-bye,
beckoned to Annette and was moving away, when he placed himself
before her.

"But I hope we shall meet this very night--shan't we?--at the