must it have done so to the widow herself. His own little attentions to the young ladyand it must be admitted that he took some pleasure in paying them; the cajolement of young women was a habit with him, and pleased him, even though nothing came of it, just as writing a sonnet, though not designed for publication, pleases a bard-had, indeed, been somewhat icily received, though he felt that just at last there had been symptoms of a thaw; but he had had no object in them beyond throwing her off her guard, and, if possible, diverting the suspicions of other people into a wrong direction.

In this he had been successful even beyond his hopes. For Mrs. Armytage had had her eyes glued to the window-pane of her private sitting room which commanded the terrace throughout the interview. Her exclamations of contempt at Mr. Josceline's familiarity with the widow were forcible and frequent. How can he so demean himself? What a fool he is making of that old woman!' &c. &c.; but when Mrs. Jennynge had left him, and she

observed the attentions he was paying to Anastasia, she was even still more scandalised-by Anastasia.

'What a forward minx! There is no knowing what a girl may not do with an old man if she throws herself at him like that. I think it is my bounden duty as a matron—and the only one qualified to advise that sweet young creature-to warn Miss Josceline of her father's peril.'

115

CHAPTER XIX.

THE LOST LOCKET.

Ella

THOUGH the luncheon-bell had rung, did not make her appearance at the table-d'hôte -a circumstance which would have annoyed and perhaps even alarmed her father, but for the fact that others also had failed to appear there as usual. Mr. Aird and Davey were absentees, and Mr. Josceline had been informed by Mrs. Trant that his daughter had left the hotel only a few minutes before his own return thither, accompanied by the younger gentleman. Where Mr. Aird was she did not know, and it had struck her that this was the first occasion on which she had seen the little fellow out of his father's company. He had come in by himself, it seemed, and then departed almost immediately with Ella.

I am afraid it's an elopement,' observed

Mrs. Jennynge, with a little giggle, as she dissected a prawn; 'you really ought to have put a stop to the flirtation between those two young people earlier, Mr. Josceline.'

Mrs. Armytage had it on the tip of her tongue to say, 'Don't you talk; you've got a daughter of your own to look after;' but she restrained herself with an effort. It made her angry, however, to remark that Mr. Josceline -who perhaps felt that he owed the widow some reparation for his recent conduct to her— laughed at this sally very much.

It would have shown more prudence in the young lady,' observed Mrs. Armytage, if she had run away with the father instead of the son. I understand Mr. Aird is immensely

rich.'

The observation was intentionally a disagreeable one. Mrs. Armytage had meant to give Mr. Josceline what she called a rap on the knuckles for his encouragement of those vulgar Jennynges, but she had no idea how tender his knuckles were. She had inadvertently suggested the very thing which he had been re

volving in his own mind, but which he was especially solicitous to prevent occurring to anyone else. Without so much as a wince, however, he replied indifferently, Well; I don't much believe in the great fortune of retired Indians; one hears of their having so many laks of rupees, but it often turns out that they have a lack of pounds sterling. The day for the shaking of the Pagoda tree has gone by.'

But it had not gone by when Mr. Aird first stood at the foot of it,' returned Mrs. Armytage.

'After all, what is money?' ejaculated Mrs. Jennynge, sentimentally.

'I should like to know what some of us would be without it?' remarked her rival, contemptuously.

Poor Mrs. Jennynge felt the dart, and also her incapacity to hold her own in single combat with her enemy; she was sorry she had spoken, but she could not let the ball rest where it had been flung-that is, in her own lap. I mean what is money, after all, without other things to enable us to enjoy it?' she