clergyman's daughter?" began Lady Maude, a strange bitterness filling her
heart.

"I tell you, Maude, the Ashtons are our equals in all ways. He is a proud
old doctor of divinity--not old, however--of irreproachable family and
large private fortune."

"You spoke of him as a tutor?"

"A tutor! Oh, I said he was in a measure our tutor when we were young. I
meant in training us--in training us to good; and he allowed George and
Val to read with him, and directed their studies: all for love, and out
of the friendship he and my father bore each other. Dr. Ashton a paid
tutor!" ejaculated Lord Hartledon, laughing at the notion. "Dr. Ashton an
obscure country clergyman! And even if he were, who is Val, that he
should set himself up?"

"He is the Honourable Val Elster."

"Very honourable! Val is an unlucky dog of a spendthrift; that's what Val
is. See how many times he has been set up on his legs!--and has always
come down again. He had that place in the Government my father got him.
He was attaché in Paris; subsequently in Vienna; he has had ever so many
chances, and drops through all. One can't help loving Val; he is an
attractive, sweet-tempered, good-natured fellow; but he was certainly
born under an unlucky star. Elster's folly!"

"Val will drop through more chances yet," remarked Lady Maude. "I pity
Miss Ashton, if she means to wait for him."