“Had you pleasant weather?”

“After we got clear of the Channel, excellent weather.”

“You came alone, I suppose?”

“Quite alone.”

“How do you get on without your dear friend Effingdale, or your 'familiar,' Upton?”

Norwood colored a little at a question the drift of which he felt thoroughly, but tried with a laugh to evade an answer.

“Are they in England? I thought I read their names at the Newmarket meeting?” asked she, after waiting in vain for a reply.

“Yes; they were both at Newmarket,” replied he, shortly.

“Was it a good meeting?”

“I can scarcely say so,” rejoined he, attempting a laugh. “My book turned out very unfortunately.”