due time she reached her destination, and after a drive from the station
at which she got out, of a mile or two, she found herself within Sir
Lionel's grounds. These were extensive and well kept, while the
manor-house itself was one of the noblest of its class.

After she had waited for some time in an elegant drawing-room a servant
came with Sir Lionel's apologies for not coming to see her, on account
of a severe attack of gout, and asking her to come up stairs to the
library. Miss Plympton followed the servant to that quarter, and soon
found herself in Sir Lionel's presence.

He was seated in an arm-chair, with his right foot wrapped in flannels
and resting upon a stool in front of him, in orthodox gout style. He was
a man apparently of about fifty years of age, in a state of excellent
preservation. His head was partially bald, his brow smooth, his cheeks
rounded and a little florid, with whiskers on each side of his face, and
smooth-shaven chin. There was a pleasant smile on his face, which
seemed natural to that smooth and rosy countenance; and this, together
with a general tendency to corpulency, which was rather becoming to the
man, and the gouty foot, all served to suggest high living and
self-indulgence.

"I really feel ashamed of myself, Miss--ah--Plympton," said Sir Lionel,
"for giving you so much trouble; but gout, you know, my dear madam, is
not to be trifled with; and I assure you if it had been any one else I
should have declined seeing them. But of course I could not refuse to
see you, and the only way I could have that pleasure was by begging you
to come here. The mountain could not come to Mohammed, and so Mohammed,
you know--eh? Ha, ha, ha!"