Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

THE NORTH SIDE OF GROSVENOR SQUARE. 369
the-corner business. John Marston went over to Mary; George
Corby came to Lord Hainault; Lord Saltire went to Lady Hainault, who had Archy asleep in her lap; and Gus and Flora went
to Lady Ascot.
"At last, old friend," said Mary to John Marston. "And I
have been watching for you so long. I was afraid that the time
would come for the children to go to bed, and that you would
never come and speak to me."
"Lord Hainault and I were talking politics," said Marston.
"That is why I did not come."
" Men must talk politics, I suppose," said Mary. "But I wish
you had come while my cousin was here. He is so charming.
You will like him."
"He seems to be a capital fellow," said Marston.
"Indeed he is," said Mary. "He is really the most lovable
creature I have met for a long time. If you would take him up,
and be kind to him, and show him life, from the side from which
you see it, you would be doing a good work. And you would be
obliging me. And I know, my dear friend, that you like to
oblige me."
"Miss Corby, you know that I would die for you."
"I know it. Who better? It puzzles me to know what I
have done to earn such kindness from you. But there it is. You
will be kind to him."
Marston was partly pleased and partly disappointed by this
conversation. Would you like to guess why? Yes. Then I
will leave you to do so, and save myself half a page of writing.
Only saying this, for the benefit of inexperienced novel-readers,
that he was glad to hear her talk in that free and easy manner
about her cousin; but would have been glad if she had not talked
in that free and easy manner to himself. Nevertheless, there
was evidently no harm done as yet. That was a great cause of
congratulation; there was time yet.
Gus and Flora went over to Lady Ascot. Lady Ascot said,
"My dears, is it not near bed-time? " just by way of opening the
conversation, - nothing more.
" Lawks a mercy me, no," said Flora. "Go along with you,
do, you foolish thing."
"My dear! my dear!" said Lady Ascot.
" She is imitating old Alwright," explained Gus. "She told
me she was going to. Lord Saltire says, Maria! Maria! Maria!
-you are intolerably foolish, Maria!"
"Don't be naughty, Gus," said Lady Ascot.
"Well, so he did, for I heard him. Don't mind us; we don't
mean any harm. I say, Lady Ascot, has she any right to bite
and scratch?"
16* x