Lady Lesbia unbent a little presently, and smiled upon the stranger.

There was a relief in a stranger's presence.

He talked of new things, places and people she had never seen.

She brightened and became quite friendly, deigned to invite the expression of Mr.Hammond's opinions upon music and art, and after breakfast allowed him to follow her into the drawing-room, and to linger there fascinated for half an hour, looking over her newest books, and her last batch of music, but looking most of all at her, while Maulevrier and Mary were loafing on the lawn outside.
'What are you going to do with yourself this morning ?' asked Maulevrier, appearing suddenly at the window.
'Anything you like,' answered Hammond.

'Stay, there is one pilgrimage I am eager to make.