"Yes, Lady Alice has been enlightening | free with his money, when we me on your change of habits. Miracles other last; very good the former was, I never cease. As I've her word for it, I daresay; but, as I told him, rather outhave no doubt it's all true, and I'm glad to spoken and somewhat uncalled for. Howhear of your reformation. I'm in town on ever, I stayed on at Wildbad, simply to business myself, as it happens." show I didn't care for him one way or other, and a good thing it was for me, as it turned out.

WE fear we have been somewhat neglectful of Mr. Hemprigge, and Mr. Hemprigge is not a man who likes to be overlooked. 'But, in truth, lately he had been pushed a good deal to the wall, and he felt it. From his versatile brain had sprung the Crédit Fon-means. cier and Mobilier of Turkey. He it was to whom the famous Mr. Childersleigh owed reputation and commercial existence, and it came hard on him to be quietly thrust back into the second place. To return to a metaphor that served us before: the elephant he had caught had proved thoroughly up to nd had done it well, but then he at his work his own way, and

profits to be for Mr. Hemprigge. He had his | Hestercombe House were the trump-cards spacious apartments on a first-floor in Picca- Hemprigge held in playing his little social dilly, besides a snug little box perched high game; he could always rely on finding men on Streatham Common, where he gave the like Budger to call them for him. most charming little dinners to select circles of plutocrats.

46

"High fellow, Hemprigge," that gentleman would observe; goes anywhere he pleases and does just what he likes; has the run of Hestercombe House regular, I understand."

And even when his own personal consequence was at the highest, asserting itself among the gilded splendours of his palace

manager with a pompous half-bullying deference. He exaggerated the triumphs of his friend, and Hemprigge suffered him to romance at will. Hemprigge did not dine regular at Hestercombe House, but he had been more than once admitted within its exclusive gates. It had amused Lord Rushbrook to take him there, and Lord Hestercombe received any guest introduced by his son. Besides, the Earl looked on the Manager as a sort of commercial henchman of his nephew's, and was inclined to tolerate his occasionally following his master into society as swelling his master's consequence.

For Mr. Hemprigge was courted in an extensive society. His graceful poses on his steady but showy park-hack made him the admiration of awe-struck provincials. His hat, removed with a D'Orsay flourish of the rim, was more often in his hand than on his head, when he was not kissing his straw-in Park Lane, Budger would treat the coloured gloves in acknowledgment of the smiles of beauty. He had his stall at the opera, too, where he martyred himself with creditable constancy through long hot nights in the season; and it was a sight to see him guiding his high-swung mail-phaeton, with its high-bred, high-actioned, mammoth chestnuts; remarkably free-goers they were, rather too much so, indeed, for the muscles of his biceps and the peace of his mind. On the whole, they deserved the admiration they challenged, although it was somewhat hard to get at their points through the mazes of their embossed harness, all ablaze with the Hemprigge crest. The art of driving had not been included in their owner's earlier education, and it was rumored that, when he first set up his chariot, the prudent directors of the "Gryphon" had hesitated to insure his life on any ordinary policy. But Hemprigge was a man who could make something of most matters he set his mind to. Now collisions had become comparatively rare with him, although still, when he tendered to his friends the seat by his side, it was not unfrequently declined with thanks or accepted in trembling.

He had become courted, as we said, in certain sets, and if he cared for admiration and appreciation, he had the one and the other forced on him in plenty. But, of course, he found slight satisfaction while revolving in the circles where he was recognized as an ornament, so long as he was constantly reminded in others that he was only there upon sufferance. Lord Rushbrook delighted in him, and, cultivating him in a way of his own, encouraged him insidiously in the airs he was disposed to take.

But it was delicate work fooling Hemprigge: indeed, it may be surmised, he penetrated his noble friend's motives, and perfectly comprehended the footing on which he was permitted to stand with him. We may rest assured, although they saw a good deal of each other, there was little love lost between the two. But the friendship of Lord Rushbrook and the hospitalities of

At The Cedars " he was a much more frequent visitor. Hugh, who fathomed his colleague's social aspirations, and was not unwilling to flatter them so far as he reasonably could, had asked leave to present him there, and, strange to say, Purkiss had taken him up and helped him to make good his footing. You would have said the two men were uncongenial enough, yet they seemed drawn together by a hidden sympathy into something resembling friendship. Perhaps it was only that they found each other mutually helpful. Purkiss's good offices gave Hemprigge ready access to a house where it was creditable, and might be profitable, to have a footing. Purkiss was a shareholder in Mr. Hemprigge's company, and might be glad on occasion to draw information from near the fountain-head.

Sir Basil, at first, barely tolerated him; but Hemprigge would never have got on so well in life if he had not known how to deal with men like Sir Basil. He set himself down at the feet of the venerable Lombard Street Gamaliel with so candid a humility that the old banker could not but be touched and flattered. Sir Basil interested himself in the conversion of this clever young heretic, who, with little less intelligence than Hugh, was far less self-appreciative, and much more open to conviction; who argued so closely and logically, and yet somehow contrived to lay himself so terribly open to the thrusts of the older man. He came out wonderfully, especially in Hugh's absence,

and never did the banker find his evenings fly more pleasantly than when he had the plastic Mr. Hemprigge for his guest.

The ladies of the family did not like him quite so much.

"Oh, by the way, Maude, Hemprigge dines with us to-morrow," said Purkiss to his sister, sauntering into the drawing-room one afternoon on his return from the City.

"Dines to-morrow, again? Why, he dined here once this week already," ejaculated Maude. She did not try to conceal her despite, which Lucy did, although altogether unsuccessfully.

Purkiss heard smilingly the tone of his sister's answer, and actually beamed when he caught the expression on Miss Winter's face.

"You forget, Maude, it was Saturday last. But I'm sure you must agree with me that we can't be too civil to Hugh's right-hand man. I won't call him Hugh's head, although other people do."

66

66

Head, indeed!" flashed up Maude; an excellent head-clerk I don't doubt, if that's what you mean; very industrious and punctual in carrying out orders. I don't wonder you take to him, Purkiss."

66

"Well, vulgar then. You won't dispute that epithet. Call him anything you please, what I mean is, I don't like him. I'm quite sure you don't. We're both of us barely civil to him, the house isn't very lively, and what I ask is, why does he come here so often?"

"It's a good thing for him being received in a house like this, and then he feels flattered by Sir Basil's evident liking for him,” responded Lucy, not very candidly.

"I don't know," rejoined Maude. "Of course papa has a great deal of experience, and perhaps he might teach Mr. Hemprigge if Mr. Hemprigge were willing to learn. But then Mr. Hemprigge is not a man to be taught; even I can see how he often knocks under, when in reality he has much the best of the argument. The more I see of him the less I seem to know him, and the less I trust him. If I were to speak frankly, I should call him a hypocrite. The man has two faces, or rather half-a-dozen. Did you ever hear him differ seriously from either my father or Mr. Childersleigh? and yet how seldom these two agree. When Mr. Childersleigh is with us he is all reserve, simply because he cannot speak and act as he generally does without committing himself. I don't like to think my father is deceived; but if he is, time will open his eyes, and I don't fancy there can be much harm done. Mr. Childersleigh ought to be well able to take care of himself, but if he really does trust this Mr. Hemprigge, I should

Nonsense, Maude, you do him injustice, and are talking of what you know nothing whatever," broke in Sir Basil, speaking much more angrily than was his habit with his daughter. I fancy I may call myself a fair judge, and let me tell you I find Mr. Hemprigge an exceedingly prom-like to give him a word of warning." ising young man; very modest and unassuming with it all, and much more ready than others I could name to profit by the instruction of his elders. It is a kindness" having him here, and, as I have every reason to believe, my counsels are of real service to him. Tell him from me, Purkiss, we shall have very great pleasure in seeing him."

"I will, sir," returned Purkiss, triumphantly. "As he always says, he feels it a privilege as well as a pleasure coming to you, for he never finds himself in your company without getting valuable lights."

66

"I think you are prejudiced, Maude," rejoined Lucy, warming, however, into more eagerness than she had hitherto shown; your brother is a man of the world, and he trusts him too."

66

"Purkiss!" ejaculated Maude, and there was an infinity of expression in the accent. Purkiss is a man of business, my dear, not a man of the world, and Purkiss's prejudices against other people may be very good reasons for his making friends with Mr. Hemprigge. And so I ask again, what brings Mr. Hemprigge here ? "

This time Lucy's answer was a reminder Yes, I think I may have been of use to that the dressing-bell had rung a full quarhim" returned Sir Basil, complacently. "Iter of an hour before, and a precipitate ream glad to know I have opened his eyes to some of the fallacies of the new theories and the abuses of the new system."

treat. The truth is, had she dealt as candidly with her friend as her friend with her, she fancied she could have answered the question. Her instincts had been whispering her for some time why Mr. Hemprigge came, although she had tried hard to be deaf to them. Hemprigge had never uttered one word that could commit him, but in looks and manner he had spoken out. She ought to have been flattered, if not

touched, by the disinterested admiration of this selfishly-prosperous man, but she was neither the one nor the other. He had agreeable manners and an abundance of superficial information that he knew very well to make the most of. He had the happy tact that greases the ways of life to the man who is working up a social incline. Raise himself as he might, and he was likely to go on rising, he was pretty sure to adapt himself to any successive spheres he might

soar to.

deep piled carpets meandered, in glowing hues, and a tropical luxuriance, the mammoth flora of an impossible fairyland. At every step you crushed to death some brilliant butterfly or delicate humming-bird. From the walls Madonnas and St. Cecilias, Raphaels, Correggios, Murillos - all the masters of the Wardour Street School, duly labelled and ticketed, leered and simpered at you. Darius' feasts like Lord Mayors' banquets, Doges' weddings with Bucentaurs modelled after the Swan-hoppers' He was the last man in the world to let his barge, treasures of art unknown to Kügler opportunities run to waste, or to throw his - Titians, Tintorettos, and Paul Veroneses chances away. With the money he had al- were there in profusion; and with their ready, so far as adding to it went, the mat-rich blaze of colour conscientious amateurs rimonial ball was at his feet, yet he saun- could safely swear them marvellously like tered listlessly away from it, and seemed the triumphs of Venetian art. only to ask for encouragement to throw himself at hers. With all that, what she felt for him was a distaste fast growing to repugnance. Well, there are prejudices it is very hard to account for. The child ready to pet almost anything, turns naturally from the bright-eyed, graceful snake, glittering in its silvery coils, even from the lithe lizard, gorgeous in its green and gold. There is something about the facile gliding motion that inspires distrust; a suspicion of the slime only to be detected by the touch you don't care to venture on.

If Mr. Hemprigge had in certain places to pick his way among eggs, to perform a sword-dance with the continual fear before his eyes of slipping and hurting himself on the blades, there were others where, en revanche, he could swagger away at his will. On the very day he was so freely canvassed at "The Cedars," he was engaged to dine at Budger's, and there you could hardly have recognized Sir Basil's retiring friend and modest acolyte in the man whom the blustering host himself delighted to honour.

66

Everything in Budger's mansion-footmen, furniture, master, mistress, daughters, guests - was in a more resplendent style than even at the sumptuous Cedars." The hall struck and entranced you by its violent contrasts, from the tesselated mosaics of its floor to the flaming cornices of its ceiling. It was pervaded, like so many animated stoves, by those blazing crimson liveries we have seen clustering behind the orange carriage. In sympathy with all about him, the very butler relieved his sombre black with a profusion of sparkling stud and glittering chain.

Although the party was a small one, the guests were received in a suite of state drawing-rooms, where the crimson brocade of gilded chairs and couches flashed and flickered in countless mirrors. Over the

Budger loomed larger than ever with his foot set down on the domestic rug. His cheeks bloomed a richer purple, his eye glared with a latent command, and his nostrils dilated as if to sniff the incense exhaling from the magnificence himself had created. Mrs. Budger, in her imperious corpulence, was every way worthy her pompous lord. With the thermometer at 80°, she sat draped in stuffs that might have been taken from the Venetian canvases overhead, while in her décolletée glory and golden chains, she looked like a barbaric princess decked out to grace the triumph of a Roman conqueror. Her tiara of manycoloured gems might have beseemed the widow of a Brahmin millionnaire preparing for suttee; the lustre of her stomacher would have dimmed the ephod of a Jewish high priest.

The fair forms of her two daughters were run on the maternal lines, and their fulness of outline must have charmed Oriental amateurs of beauty. No wonder, when, nursed in the lap of luxury, they were strictly forbidden to put their feet to the ground, and rigidly denied all but carriage exercise. Anticipating matronly state, they, too, were decked in a marvellous luxury of jewels, and Scythia and Sarmatia might have been ransacked to furnish the wealth of hair that went to furnish out their monstrous chignons.

The company a dozen or so in number were, with slight exceptions, not unworthy of their entertainers, and the general effect of the ladies was like a glimpse behind the scenes of the Châtelet in the interludes of a grand féerie. Any one in unassuming male costume must have felt pitiably at a disadvantage, unless sustained by a sense of proprietorship in some one of those brilliant females. Fortunately, as it chanced, either of the two bachelors of the