was no escape. Claire flushed and hesitated.

"No! No, I don't. Not most. But there are some!"

"We are not concerned with `some'!" he said quietly, and straightening
himself, he cast a glance around.

The guests were standing about in little groups, aimless, irresolute,
waiting to be broken up into twos and fours, and drafted off to the
empty lawns; across the deserted tea-tables his mother's eyes met his,
coldly reproachful. Erskine sighed, and rose to his feet.

"I must go. These people need looking after. Don't look so sad. It
hurts me to see you sad."

Just those few, hastily-spoken words and he was gone, and Claire
strolled off in an opposite direction, anxious to screen herself from
observation among the crowd. She ached with pity for Cecil, but through
all her distresses the old confidence lay warm at her heart. There was
one man in the world who towered high above the possibility of deceit;
and between that man and herself was a bond stronger than spoken word.
The future seemed full of difficulties, but Claire did not trouble
herself about the future. The present was all-absorbing, full of
trouble; full of joy!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was seven o'clock before the last of the guests had departed, and
Mrs Fanshawe saw to it that her son was fully engaged until it was time
to dress for dinner. Her keen eyes had noticed signs of agitation as
the two young people sat together at tea. And what had Erskine been
talking about with that tense expression on his face? And what had
happened to the girl that she looked at one moment so radiant, and at
the next so cast-down? Mrs Fanshawe's affections, like those of most
selfish people, were largely influenced by personal considerations. A
week before she had felt quite a warm affection for the agreeable
companion who had rescued her from the boredom of lonely days, now hour
by hour, she was conscious of a rising irritation against the girl who
threatened to interfere with her own plans. The verdict of others
confirmed her own suspicions as to Erskine's danger, for during the
afternoon half a dozen intimate friends referred to Claire with
significant intonation. "Such a graceful creature. No wonder Erskine
is _epris_!" ... "Miss Gifford is quite charming." ... "_So_
interested to meet Miss Gifford!" Eyes and voice alike testified to the
conviction that if an engagement were not already arrange