Harrington Hall Phineas, on his first arrival in London, found a few of his old friends, men who were still delayed by business though the Session was over.

He arrived on the 10th of August, which may be considered as the great day of the annual exodus, and he remembered how he, too, in former times had gone to Scotland to shoot grouse, and what he had done there besides shooting.

He had been a welcome guest at Loughlinter, the magnificent seat of Mr.Kennedy, and indeed there had been that between him and Mr.Kennedy which ought to make him a welcome guest there still.

But of Mr.Kennedy he had heard nothing directly since he had left London.

From Mr.Kennedy's wife, Lady Laura, who had been his great friend, he had heard occasionally; but she was separated from her husband, and was living abroad with her father, the Earl of Brentford.