was perfectly disgraceful. Miss Silver, if you see my son before I get
up to-day, tell him I wish particularly for his company at breakfast."

"Yes, my lady," Miss Silver said, docilely; and my lady did not see the
smile that faded with the words.

She understood it perfectly. Sir Everard had broken from the maternal
apron-string, deserted the standard of Lady Louise, and gone over to
"bold, odious" Miss Hunsden.

Sybilla dutifully delivered the message the first time she met the
baronet. A groom was holding Sir Galahad, and his master was just
vaulting into the saddle. He turned away from the dark face and sweet
voice.

"It is impossible this morning," he said. "Tell Lady Kingsland I shall
meet her at dinner."

He rode away as he spoke, with the sudden consciousness that it was the
first time he and that devoted mother had ever clashed. Thinking of
her, he thought of her favorite.

"She wants to read me a tirade, I suppose, about her pet, Lady Louise,"
he said to himself. "They would badger me into marrying her if they
could. I never cared two straws for the daughter of Earl Carteret; she
is frightfully _passée_, and she's three years older than I am. I am
glad I did not commit myself to please my mother."

Sir Everard reached Hunsden Hall in time for luncheon. The old place
looked deserted and ruined. The half-pay Indian officer's poverty was