y the trout-stream when she had seen Dick hiding in the
bush, Selwyn had caught her when she had almost swooned. He had gripped
her arms with his hands, and, quivering with emotion, had lent his
strength to her. At the memory the crimson of her cheeks deepened. They
had been so close to each other. His burning eyes, his lips trembling
with passion--what strange impulse in her heart had made her thrill with
a heavenly exhilaration? For that instant while his hands had gripped
her a glorious vista had appeared before her eyes--a world of dreams
where the tyranny of self could not enter. For that one instant her
whole soul had leaped in response to his strong tenderness.

She tried to dismiss the recollection as an admission of cowardice
engendered of the night's mood. But she could not do away with the
memories which lingered obstinately. Not since the days when Dick had
offered his blind loyalty had any one tried to understand her as Austin
Selwyn had done. She was grateful for that. She might even have valued
his friendship if he had not been so despicable that awful night. To
insult her with his talk of pacifism, and then, heedless of her
intensity, to propose to her! She could not forgive him for that. She
was glad her words had stung him!

Minutes passed. The fire would not answer to any attention, but sulkily
lived out its little hour. The evening seemed interminable.

It was shortly after ten o'clock when there was a knock at the door, and
Elise hurried to open it, thinking there might be a message from the
garage.

'It's only me, Elise,' said a familiar voice.

'Oh!--Horace,' she laughed. 'What's the trouble? Did Marian leave
anything behind?'

'No. I was just absolutely fed up; and when she told me you were here
alone, I thought I'd jolly well come down and talk to you.'

'Good! Come in. You mustn't stay long, though. Please don't notice
this horrible mess.'

In sheer pleasure at the breaking of the solitude, her vivacity made her
eyes sparkle with life. Her sentences were crisp and rapid, and as she
led the young officer to a seat by the fire it would have been difficult
for Elise herself to think that a few minutes before she had been
helplessly and lonesomely on the brink of tears.

'How is the dance going on up the street?' she asked, as Maynard inserted
a cigarette between his lips without lighting it.

'It's a poisonous affair.'

'Poor boy!'

'I'm fed up, Elise. I'm--I'