Winter groaned.

"And yourselves? how is—how is—you know I am a bear—how is the purse?"

Marvellously, considering how fast your hundred went; but nurse has got quite into the London ways, and quite saves us a fortune now; and my pupils, and the new ones! Oh, we shall do very well—if—if dear grandpapa only could look like his own old self."

"Well, I have thirty pounds of his I must not run away with. Have you Lady Desmond's cheque?"

"Yes, quite safe."

"Well, be sure you keep it; sickness may come, a thousand things. How is your lady cousin?"

"Quite well; always, in her letters, talking of coming home, and never coming."

"Just as I expected."

"And you are bent on wintering at Pau?"