Master's most particular sanctum looking down upon them; while in the
drawing-room beyond, Miss Wenlock, at the tea-table, sat patiently
waiting till her domestic god should declare the seance over, allow her
to make tea, and bring in the young and honoured guest. And now both
charmers had vanished from the scene and had left no equals behind. The
Master, who possessed the same sort of tact in training young women
that Lord Melbourne showed in educating the girl-Queen, was left
without his most engaging occupation.

Ah!--that good fellow, Sorell, was bringing her up to him.

"Master, Lady Constance would like to be introduced to you."

The Master was immensely flattered. Why should she wish to be introduced
to such an old fogey? But there she was, smiling at him.

"You knew my father. I am sure you did!"

His elderly heart was touched, his taste captured at once. Sorell had
engineered it all perfectly. His description of the girl had fired the
Master; and his sketch of the Master in the girl's ear, as a kind of
girlhood's arbiter, had amused and piqued her. "Yes, do introduce me!
Will he ever ask me to tea? I should be so alarmed!"

It was all settled in a few minutes. Sunday was to see her introduction
to the Master's inner circle, which met in summer, not between books and
a blazing fire, but in the small college garden hidden amid the walls of
Beaumont. Sorell was to bring her. The Master did not even go through
the form of inviting either Mrs. Hooper or Miss Hooper. In all such
matters he was a chartered libertine and did what he pleased.