Sink or Swim? , Volume III

The breakfast meal at No. 13 Stanwick-street, not being either a varied or a luxurious one, did not occupy much of Colonel Fred Norcott's valuable time. It commenced, however, frequently at so late an hour, owing to the stay-out habits over night of the master of the house, that twelve o'clock often struck before the table was what Mrs. Norcott called "cleared," and the room ready for company.

Which company consisted usually, at the time of Honor's stay, but of one visitor -- _the_ visitor whom, for reasons best known to himself, Colonel Norcott was ever on the watch to conciliate and flatter. Arthur Vavasour's appearance in Stanwick-street was usually so timed that his host's horses -- animals chiefly devoted at that period to the use of his daughter -- should be walking up and down before the house in readiness for Mrs. Beacham's appearance. On the eventful Tuesday morning -- the Tuesday in Epsom holiday week -- which was hereafter to be a strongly marked one in Honor Beacham's memory, Colonel Norcott, departing somewhat from his accustomed habits, was early astir -- so early that at a little after eleven he might have been seen, his cigar between his lips, standing on the steps of the house he occupied, and evidently waiting for some person whose coming was longer delayed than the Colonel found altogether agreeable. At last, walking briskly round a corner, with a very preoccupied expression of countenance, and swinging in the air a light riding-whip with the manner of one lost in thought, Arthur Vavasour, the individual expected by Honor's impatient parent, appeared in sight.