"But you'll have the dinner I suppose?" eagerly asked Gladys.

"Of course" replied Mulberry with a shrug of the shoulders "as I told you Gladys it is a nightly performance here."

"How nice!" gasped Gladys "well now Mulberry dear I will go and see how Helen is; shall I say good night now?"

"If it pleases you dear" answered Mulberry.

Gladys kissed him fondly and then turned to Lady Beaufort who accompanied her upstairs.

Lawrence and Mulberry then retired to the study for another gla.s.s of burgandy before going to bed.

CHAPTER 30

THE DAWN OF LOVE

Some few weeks had elapsed since the aforesaid dinner party took place and day by day Helen grew stronger, till at length Dr. Durham p.r.o.nounced her to be well enought to get up; in fact he went so far as to say that a drive in the fresh air would do her good. As may be imagined it was a happy day for everybody, when Helen attired in her new winter clothes made her appearance in the large hall, ready for her first drive in the open air since her illness commenced.

Gladys was also there and the nurse whom Mulberry had thought it advisable to keep a little longer.

It was a nice bright day such as is seldom seen in the month of November. The victoria stood at the door and the two beautifully groomed bay horses were pauing the ground, eager to be off. Mulberry and Lawrence saw them safely off and then as they turned into the study Mulberry said "I think if Miss Winston is well enough, it would be a good thing to drive to Cannon Street this afternoon and see about reading that story of Sheenes."

"I think so too" replied Lawrence.

Neither of the men seemed at all inclined to settle down and after wandering about a good deal, Mulberry threw himself down in a chair and gave a yawn. There was silence for a little while and at last Lawrence unexpectedly broke it by saying "I say Mulberry how long is it since you and Gladys Lincarrol have been engaged?"

Mulberry turned a dull red and began to light his pipe. "Why do you want to know?" he stammered at last.

"I'll tell you presently" replied Lawrence with a smile.

"Well I think it is about three or four weeks" answered Mulberry shuffling about from one leg to the other.

"Is that all?" enquired Lawrence.

"Yes" replied Mulberry, "now tell me why you wanted to know.

It was now Laurence's turn to grow embarresed, "well the truth is" he said at length "I am thinking of proposing to Helen Winston, and as I have had no experience I would like a few hints as to how I should go."

Mulberry laughed "well you should go to my mother for hints" he replied "she helped me very much during my little romance."

"Well I am afraid it would hardly do for me to go up and ask Lady Beaufort to give me some hints, as I am about to propose" replied Lawrence "she would be very much taken aback I should think."

"Not she" answered Mulberry with a shrug of his shoulders" she would take it quite as a matter of course; but still if you dont care to ask her, why not scribble her a note describing your position and I'll send one of the maids up with it; why she would write you pages of advice."

"I dont want as much as all that" cried Lawrence "I want just a few gentle hints as to how to be loving and look as if I was in ernest."

"Well why not write to my mother?" again repeated Mulberry.

"It would look so silly" said Lawrence "and yet I'm hard up for advice and _you_ dont seem inclined to give me any"

"No, because you'd get it much better and more original from my mother"

replied Mulberry.

"Well then I'll risk writing" said Laurence getting up as he spoke "but mind if Lady Beaufort is annoyed you must take the consequences because I should never have dreamt of doing this without you."

"Oh I'll answer for the consequences" said Mulberry with an amused smile as his friend sat down and taking a sheet of crested note paper proceeded to pen the following lines:

LADY BEAUFORT

I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in writing you these few words--but speaking honestly I am in the very same difficulty as your son was a little time ago and out of which you so cleaverly helped him. Would it be asking too much of you to do the same for me. I am about to propose to Helen Winston and dont quite know how to express myself.

I want it to be quite a short proposal and one quickly got through. Do you advise me to do it out of doors or in. I am afraid I should get so nervous in a drawing room, but of course it is just as you think best. Might I have an answer to this as soon as possible please.

Believe me, Yours faithfully LAWRENCE E. G. LINCARROL.

"Here now if Lady Beaufort turns that to ridicule its not my fault cried Lawrence hastily s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g his epistle into a c.o.c.ked hat.

"No of course not" replied Mulberry encouragingly ringing the bell as he spoke, "now when the butler comes I'll tell him to send it up at once and mark my words Lawrence you'll have a reply within three minutes from now."

"I feel an awful a.s.s" responded Lawrence throwing the note on the table "but now I'm going out for a bit perhaps as you say I shall find an answer waiting for me when I come back."

"No doubt of it" said Mulberry and with that Lawrence disappeared into the hall.

The day was beautifully fine as I said before so Lawrence walked further than he had at first meant to and coming back he met Helen, Gladys and Mrs. Chizzle the nurse and at Helen's request he got into the carriage and made one of the party home.

Helen looked quite her old self again. The same bright red colour was on her cheeks and the old light in her eyes.

"I think the drive has done you good Miss Winston" remarked Lawrence noting the change in her face.

"Yes, I feel so much better" answered Helen "we drove all round Hyde Park and the air is really lovely for London."

"It is" replied Lawrence and then turning to the nurse he added "I should think you are pleased with the progress your patient is making."

"Yes" a.s.sented Mrs. Chizzle "I am."

"Do you think Miss Winston, you are well enough to drive to Cannon Street this afternoon and read Mr. Sheene's "story"? enquired Lawrence.

"Perfectly" replied Helen with a smile.

Lawrence was astounded, "you must be prepared for bad news" he said.

"I am already prepared" said Helen.

"For the very worst?" queried Lawrence.

"For anything" returned Helen