ring instinct to sweep up over the
personal love.

"What is it, Christopher?"

He had wit enough to keep his advantage, for there was something to
read on the upturned face that must not be deciphered in haste.

"I am seriously worried, Patricia. You might assist instead of
hindering me."

"Well, what is it?"

"What is Constantia teaching you?"

"Me again," she returned with a show of indignation, "why on earth
should that worry you?"

"I don't like new facets to familiar diamonds," he grumbled obscurely,
"you are getting too old. Patricia."

"You are losing your manners." But even under the banter the colour
died from her face and her hand fell listlessly to her side.

"I won't allow you to be older than I am."

She was saved further embarrassment by Renata's entrance, but all
dinner time she was conscious of his silent "awareness" of her and
was troubled by it, and it was a new and unpleasing sensation to be
troubled by any attitude of Christopher's. Then his scrutiny stopped
abruptly as if she were suddenly placed outside his range of vision,
and that attitude suited her mind as poorly as the other.

She hardly knew if it were by her own will or Christopher's that she
sat with him and Aymer that evening. She was quite powerless to resist
the request that might have been a command, and there is some pain in
life that we cling to, dreading its loss more acutely than its
presence.

Mr. Aston was away, a rare occurrence now, and the three sat talking
before the fire, till the dear familiar intercourse and the peace put
to sleep the dull ache in Patricia's heart. They talked--or rather the
men talked--of Christopher's latest experiences abroad. He had been to
the scene of a vast tunnelling operation in which his part was to come
later.

"They suggest we should take over their men's shanties as they
stand."

"Will you?" demanded Caesar. These things were in Christopher's hands.

"They might serve as material," he answered drily. "Two of their
overseers and twenty men asked for berths with me. They are mostly
Italians. If we keep them to make our encampment, I shall have to go
myself. It is rather odd how these men pick things up. I heard----" he
broke off abruptly.

"We didn't," remarked Caesar suggestively after a minute.

"It was not much, but it is funny how a nick-name travels. There were
about five hundred men there still, and I heard one say as I passed,
'Ecco il 'Roadmaker.''"

He was evide