Lord Fillingford. It's not more than
is necessary for me--nor for Leonard."

I shrugged my shoulders. She laughed rather impatiently. "One's friends
always want one to be a niggard!" She leaned forward to me, breaking
into a coaxing smile, "Remember 'the handsome thing,' dear Austin."

I came to her and patted her hand. "I'm with you right through. And,
after all, you'll still have a roof over your head."

She looked at me with eyes merry, yet foreseeing. "I shan't be in at all
a bad position." She laughed. "No harm in that--so long as it doesn't
interfere with Margaret?"

"No harm in the world. I was only afraid that you'd lost sight of it."

Jenny sighed and smiled. "You needn't be afraid of such a complete
transformation as that," she said.

CHAPTER XXV

A FRESH COAT OF PAINT

It was all very well to tell me that I must feel Fillingford's mind, but
that possession of his had always seemed to me to achieve a high degree
of intangibility. His words were not in the habit of disclosing more of
it than was necessary for his purpose--without any regard for his
interlocutor's--while his face reduced expression to a minimum. For all
you got from looking at him, you might pretty nearly as well have talked
with your eyes shut. That sudden stroke of surprise and relief at
Alison's stood out in my memory as unique--the only real revelation of
his feelings which I had seen reflected on his countenance. High demands
were being made on me as an amateur diplomatist!

My arrival at the Manor was early--untimely probably, and certainly
unexpected. The very butler showed surprise, and left me standing in the
hall while he went to discover whether Fillingford could see me. Before
this he had suggested that it was Lacey whom I really wanted and that,
since Lacey had gone out riding directly after breakfast, my errand was
vain. When I insisted that I knew whom I wanted, he gave way, still
reluctantly; several minutes passed before he returned with the message
that his lordship would receive me. He led me along a corridor, toward a
door at the far end of it. To my consternation, as we approached that
door, Lady Sarah came out of it--and came out with a good deal of
meaning. She flounced out; and she passed me with angry eyes and her
head erect. I felt quite sure that Lady Sarah had been against my being
received at all that morning.

During previous visits to the Manor, I had not enjoyed the privilege of
being shown Fi