Nell of Shorne Mills

The day following a big dance is always a slack one, and the house party

at Anglemere came down late for breakfast, the last stragglers

endeavoring to screen their yawns behind their hands, and receiving the

usual "plans for the day" with marked coolness.

Drake, though he had slept but little, did his duty manfully, and

proposed sundry rides and drives; but the majority of the party seemed

to prefer a lounge in the drawing-room, or a quiet saunter in the

garden; but eventually a drag started for some picturesque ruins, and

some of the more energetic rode or drove to a flower show in the

neighborhood.

It is an understood thing nowadays that your host, having provided for

your amusement, is not necessarily compelled to join in your pursuits;

in short, that his house shall not only be Liberty Hall for his guests,

but for himself, and Drake, having dispatched the various parties,

started a quiet game in the billiard room, and seen that the

drawing-room windows were open and shaded, took his hat and stick and

went out for a walk.

Lady Luce had not yet put in an appearance. She remained in bed or in

her room on such occasions, and only sallied forth in time for luncheon,

thereby presenting a fresh complexion and bright eyes with which to

confound her less prudent sisters.

Drake had been thinking of her as well as of Nell. He knew that he would

have to marry. The present heir to the title and estates was anything

but a desirable young man, and it behooved Drake to keep him out of the

succession if possible.

Drake, with all his freedom from pride and side, was fully sensible of

the altitude of his position, and he knew the world looked to him for an

heir to Angleford.

Yes, he would have to marry, and as he had lost Nell, why, not marry

Luce? He had an idea that she cared for him, as much as she cared for

any other than herself, and he knew that she would fill the place as

well as, if not better than, another.

Their names had been coupled together. Society expected the match. Why

should he not ask her to renew the engagement, and ask her at once? The

house would be comparatively empty, for most of the guests would not

return until dinner time, and he would have the opportunity of making

his proposal.

He stopped dead short, half resolved to obey the impulse; then, after

the manner of men, he walked on again, and away from Anglemere, and,

instead of returning to the house in time for lunch, found himself at

one of the outlying farms.