Year: 1870

put up with it for three-quarters ot
an hour, and then out 1 60 The
whole thing was as plain as if you
had said it out loud


Rupert laughed.


1t is of no use my denying the
impeachment ne said: 4 mus
really apologize for having been SC
rude as to let you see you were un-
welcome. My only excuse is, that
saw that the new comers we're ladies
but l did not notice further than
that; and l can plead in further, ex-
tenuation, that l have seen the errol
Of my ways, and given up all my
idea of changing my carriage.


4 am sure. mamma, we must feel
touched, at the compliment of being
preferred to a cigar that is indeed
a concession for a gentleman to
make


You are really too severe upon
me- Rupert laughed. Ladies, so,
ciety is, of course, preferable to a
cigar but one does not generally
get ladies' society in a railway car
Iriage. One gets the ladies, but not
their society. 1t is because the la
dies don't give US their society, be-
cause it is rare that one can engage
q word with them, still more rarely
engage in conversation, that we take
our cigars. l would far rather talk
than smoke but l would rather en-
ljoy a cigar than the silent contem-
plation of ladies' a tire


Il think your defence is fair one,
the elder lady said. For my own
part 1 cannot see why, in a irst-class
carriage, ore should not enter into a
CONVERSATION with a gentleman
mean, of course, when a lady has
reached my time Of life. Naturally
much depends upon the appearance
and manner of the gentleman !; but
supposing no objection should arise
on this score, l cannot see why we
should not speak. Upon board ship
for example, during a long voyage
every one becomes friendly, and in
Itimate without the necessity ofintro
Iduction. When 1 was young made
a voyage to India, and some of the
friendships / formed on my way
home were among the most val
ued and lasting 1 ever made. We
shall be companions for the whole
length of our journey, for we too are
going to Chichester


Rupert Holmes after expressing
his satisfaction at hearing that they
we're to travel so far together, volun
teered the information that he was
going to stay with his friends, the
IWilmots. As he mentioned the
name, he fancied that he detected a
slight glance of satisfaction upon
the part Of the young lady, and
found from her mother thai the Viii
Imots were intimate friends Of hel
Iown. This served as an introduc
ton, and the rest of the journey was
spent in a lively conversation, il
which the theatres, exhibitions
books, society and manners, all serv
ed as subjects for much skirmishinl
between Rupert and his young com
panion, the elder lady taking bu
little part, and occasionally drop
ping off into a doze. Never did {
Tourney seem so short to Rupert
Holmes, and he was really sorry
when the train slackened its speed
for Chichester station. However
he was consoled by the hope that be
lshould soon meet his fellow-pas
lsenger, for Jack Wilmot had spoke I
lof sundry croquet-meeetings as con
ling off, and at these he felt sure ht
should meet her. AS the train drew
Iup he asked if he could be of any
service but the elder lady SAID tha
her servant would be there to meet
her. Jack Wilmct was upon the
platform and after shaking hands
with Rupert, helped to assist the Ia
dies out, shaking hands with them,
and addressing them as Mrs. and
Miss Turner, and adding to Rupert
great pleasure, as he said goodbye
we shall seey You tomorrow, hope
Mrs. Turner ?


The reply was affirmative Mrs
Turner nodded in friendly way tc
Rupert. we shall meet tomorrow
you see goodbye Miss Turner
made very demure little bend il
answer to Rupert's bow: and in an
Eother minute he was hurried off witt
his luggage to WilmOt's dog cart
which was waiting outside the sta
tion.


so, Master Rupert, you have beer
getting up a Irritation on your way
down, eh She is very pretty girl
as you see for yourself, and a clever
one too ; so mind what you are after
for I fancy she is a bit of firt.'


Who are they, JacsY


The old lady is a widow of an In
dian Banker who died long ago, and
left her very well off. She came
from this part of the country, l be-
llieve; so she returned, and bought a
small place about a mile out Of
town


Rupert did not pursue the subject
1t was quite enough for him to know
that he was to meet Amy Turner
he had heard the mother use the
Christian name-next day.


At lunch. on Jacks mentioning
! that Rupert had come down With the
Turner's, he found that Amy was the
bosom friend of Miss Wilmot, and
that she was the dearest girl in the
world conclusion with which Ru-
pert was rather inclined to agree.
Tine next day there was q large
croquet- party at the Elms, and Mr.,
Holmes was introduced i'll due form
to Mrs. Turner and her daughter.
The former lady was cordial in her
reception the latter, to Rupert S
amazement, was exceedingly demure
and distant, and appeared disposed
altogether to ignore their acquain-
tance of the preceding day. There
was no opportunity for conversation
at the moment, as Miss Wilmot
came up and hurried Miss Turner
and Rupert off to a game which was
upon the point of commencing, and
where two players were required.
Here they were chosen upon op-
posite sides principally, Rupert
thought, by a little manWuvring up
on the part of the young lady. The
game once fairly commenced, he was