Cashel Byron's Profession

"Ab'n'gas is a very clever man," the gentleman was saying. "I am

sorry I didn't hear the lecture. But I leave all that to Mary. She

receives the people who enjoy high art up-stairs; and I take the

sensible men down to the garden or the smoking-room, according to

the weather."

"What do the sensible women do?" said Lydia.

"They come late," said Mr. Hoskyn, and then laughed at his repartee

until he became aware of the vicinity of Cashel, whose health he

immediately inquired after, shaking his hand warmly and receiving a

numbing grip in return. As soon as he saw that Lydia and Cashel were

acquainted, he slipped away and left them to entertain one another.

"I wonder how he knows me," said Cashel, heartened by her gracious

reception of a nervous bow. "I never saw him before in my life."

"He does not know you," said Lydia, with some sternness. "He is your

host, and therefore concludes that he ought to know you."

"Oh! That was it, was it?" He paused, at a loss for conversation.

She did not help him. At last he added, "I haven't seen you this

long time, Miss Carew."

"It is not very long since I saw you, Mr. Cashel Byron. I saw you

yesterday at some distance from London."

"Oh, Lord!" exclaimed Cashel, "don't say that. You're joking, ain't

you?"

"No. Joking, in that sense, does not amuse me."

Cashel looked at her in consternation. "You don't mean to say that

you went to see a--a--Where--when did you see me? You might tell

me."

"Certainly. It was at Clapham Junction, at a quarter-past six."

"Was any one with me?"

"Your friend, Mr. Mellish, Lord Worthington, and some other

persons."

"Yes. Lord Worthington was there. But where were you?"

"In a waiting-room, close to you."

"I never saw you," said Cashel, growing red as he recalled the

scene. "We must have looked very queer. I had had an accident to my

eye, and Mellish was not sober. Did you think I was in bad company?"

"That was not my business, Mr. Cashel Byron."

"No," said Cashel, with sudden bitterness. "What did YOU care what

company I kept? You're mad with me because I made your cousin look

like a fool, I suppose. That's what's the matter."

Lydia looked around to see that no one was within earshot, and,

speaking in a low tone to remind him that they were not alone, said,

"There is nothing the matter, except that you are a grown-up boy

rather than a man. I am not mad with you because of your attack upon

my cousin; but he is very much annoyed, and so is Mrs. Hoskyn, whose

guest you were bound to respect."