But this good creature did go; did relieve Mrs.Harvey; and, bare-headed, suffered himself to be bedewed ten minutes by her tearful twaddle.
For once Virtue was rewarded.

Returning over the North Bridge, he met somebody whom but for his charity he would not have met.
He came in one bright moment plump upon--Lady Barbara Sinclair.

She flushed, he trembled, and in two minutes he had forgotten every human event that had passed since he was by her side.
She seemed pleased to see him, too; she ignored entirely his obnoxious proposal; he wisely took her cue, and so, on this secret understanding, they were friends.

He made his arrangements, and dined with her family.
It was a family party.

In the evening Lady Barbara allowed it to transpire that she had made inquiries about him.
(He was highly flattered.) And she had discovered he was lying hid somewhere in the neighborhood.
"Studying the guitar ?" inquired she.
"No," said he, "studying a new class of the community.