The life which puts those `livelier sides of life'
you were just quoting into a dull, drab groove of monotony. No, don't
for a moment imagine there is the slightest possibility of a chance of
my feeling bored."

There was a vehemence, an intensity, about this deliverance that rather
astonished Verna. This man had another side, then? She had read him
wrong, or at least not quite right, when she had just sized him up as an
even, prosperous man of the world, one whose self-possession nothing
could ruffle, a charming companion, but one past anything in the shape
of a great enthusiasm. Now she began to realise that she had not seen
every side of him, and the discovery in no way diminished her interest
in him.

"Well, that rather relieves me, from the responsibility point of view,
at any rate," she answered, flashing up at him one of those bright
smiles of hers. "So now, on the strength of it, I'll get you to excuse
me. There's a lot to do inside. But we'll have such a jolly time of it
this afternoon." And with a bright nod she left him.

Denham lit a fresh pipe, and strolled out a little way from the house.
It seemed to him that something had been withdrawn. He missed Verna's
presence and gracious companionship. To the full consciousness of this
he awoke with a start. He was too old and experienced to do anything
that might seem like "hanging around" her, wherefore he took a walk.
But as he looked out upon the panorama spread out in front and around,
revelled in the glow of the ambient air, even found something to
interest his naturalist soul, in the bushes or grass, he was still
thinking--well, he had better not think. Yet, why should he not? The
question pressed itself practically home to him. He was his own master,
and in every way in a position to please himself. Why should he not do
so?

What a rare "find" this was! he told himself, his thoughts running on
Verna. And if he missed her presence because she had been obliged to
withdraw for an hour or so, what did it mean? A phrase ran uneasily
through his mind, "Can't bear her out of his sight." And this was the
first day of his arrival. No, assuredly it was time to pull himself
together. And then, her brightly uttered words of parting, "We'll have
such a jolly time of it this afternoon." Well, it should be no fault of
his if they did not.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

DRAWING IN.

"Mr Denham, I think we'll change the programme, shall we?" said Ver