must be every successful man's philosophy. But
what, may I ask, makes this call on your reserve of cheek,
Dormer?--which will, I make no doubt, be equal to it."

"Wait and see," he answered, with a pronounced wink. Having executed
this operation, his eye turned to Lacey, visible through the window of
the smoking room where we were. "There'll be a row at Fillingford Manor
some day soon--that's my opinion."

"Let's wait and see about that, too," I suggested mildly. Now he was
trying to make me confidential.

He winked again. "You're a pretty safe old chap, Austin," he was good
enough to tell me.

When we returned to the terrace, Lacey was ready to start and, with a
look at his watch, Dormer went up to Jenny to say good-by. During our
brief absence Alison had departed--to set about his commission, as I
hoped.

"I say, may I come over the day after to-morrow? Shall you be here?"
Dormer asked.

"The day after to-morrow? Thursday? Yes, I shall be delighted to see
you. I want to know how you're getting on in those negotiations with Mr.
Cartmell, you know." This referred to those farms of his--she had by now
settled on three--which she wanted to round off her frontier.

Dormer smiled slyly at her. "All right, we'll talk about that, too."

"Have we any other business?" she asked, lifting her brows in feigned
surprise.

"Something may crop up," he answered with a laugh. "Till then, Miss
Driver!"

The young men got in and drove off, Margaret watching and waving her
hand as they went--a salutation copiously acknowledged by Lacey; Dormer
was busy with his handles.

"If Mr. Alison is prompt with his commission, Thursday may be a busy
day," Jenny remarked, as she sat down in a low chair and lay back in it
with an air of energy relaxed. Sitting down by her, I began to smoke my
pipe. Margaret passed us, smiling, and went into the house.

"That was a fight," said Jenny presently, "rather a stiff one--but we've
got our stiffest still to come. Lord Fillingford will fight; I must move
all my battalions against him. I shall bribe--perhaps I shall still have
to bully." She sighed. For the moment, the afternoon's struggle done, a
weariness was upon her. She sat silent again for a long while, her brows
knit in meditation or in sorrow.

"I won't tell anybody else," at last she said. "I have told you, because
I wouldn't have you live here on false pretenses--because you're my
friend. I told Mr. Alison to-day for the reason you h