see her looking so natural, so
entirely the Cecil Claire was accustomed to see. She looked tired, and
a trifle cross, but alas! these had been prevailing expressions even in
the days when things were going comparatively well. Casual in her own
manner, she saw nothing unusual in Claire's lack of welcome, she nodded
an off-hand greeting, and drew up a chair to the table.

"Well! I've come. Give me a cup of tea as a start. I've had a rush
for it. You said to-day, if possible, and I had nothing special on
hand, so I thought I had better come. What's the news, and what's the
danger? Which of us does it affect,--me or you?"

"Oh, it's--horrid, horrid, horrid! It's a long story. Finish your tea
first, then I'll tell you. I'm _so_ miserable!"

"Poor old girl!" Cecil said kindly, and helped herself to bread and
butter. Claire had a miserable conviction that her reply had had a
deceptive effect, and that the shock when it came, would be all the more
severe. Nevertheless, she was thankful for the reprieve; thankful to
see Cecil eat sandwiches with honest enjoyment, until the last one had
disappeared from the plate.

"Well!" Cecil pushed aside her cup, and rested an arm on the table.
"Let's get to business. I promised mother I'd catch the six o'clock
train back. What's it all about? Some young squire wanting to marry
you, and you want my advice? Take him, my dear! You won't always be
young and beautiful!"

Claire shook her head.

"Nothing about me. I wouldn't have worried you in the holidays, if--if
it hadn't been for your own sake..."

The red flowed into Cecil's cheeks, her face hardened, the tone of her
voice was icy cold.

"_My_ sake? I don't understand. I am not aware that you have any
responsibility about my affairs!"

"Cecil, I have! I must have. We have lived together. I have loved
you--"

Mary Rhodes waved aside the protestations with impatient scorn.

"Don't be sentimental, please! You are not one of the girls. If it's
the money, and you are in a hurry to be repaid--"

"I'm not. I'm not! I don't care if you _never_ pay..." Tears of
distress rose in Claire's eyes, she caught her breath and cried in a
choking sob. "Cecil, it's about--him! I've found out something. I've
seen him... Only last night..."

"I thought you might meet as his camp was so near. Suppose you did!
What was so terribly alarming in that?"

"You haven't heard? He hasn't been to see you, or written, or