On this Saturday afternoon Mrs.Hooper's stock of teacups entirely ran out; so did her garden chairs.

Mrs.Manson called--and Lord Meyrick, under the wing of a young fellow of All Souls, smooth-faced and slim, one of the "mighty men" of the day, just taking wing for the bar and Parliament.

Falloden, he understood, had put in an appearance earlier in the afternoon; Herbert Pryce, and Bobbie Vernon of Magdalen, a Blue of the first eminence, skirmished round and round the newcomer, taking possession of her when they could.

Mrs.Hooper, under the influence of so much social success, showed a red and flustered countenance, and her lace cap went awry.
Alice helped her mother in the distribution of tea, but was curiously silent and self-effaced.

It was dismally true that the men who usually paid attention to her were now entirely occupied with Constance.