elayed half, an hour for the travellers'
benefit. Of course Dane would stay and take pot luck. Mutton haricot
and gooseberry fool. "You can tell us all about it over lunch, and
afterwards," she added meaningly, "Teresa and you can have a nice quiet
afternoon!"

Peignton quailed at the prospect, but once again Teresa came to the
rescue.

"Dane is very tired, mother. We are both tired. He is going straight
home to rest. Be sure you _do_ rest, Dane," she added, turning towards
him, and holding out her hand. "I shan't expect to see you again until
Sunday."

"I am quite sure he won't agree to _that_!" Mrs Mallison declared, and
continued to protest volubly against Dane's departure, and to sing the
praises of the haricot and fool, but her flutters had no power against
the inflexibility of Teresa's calm, and finally she realised her defeat,
and scurried back to shut the dining-room door, with the obvious
intention of giving privacy to a tender farewell.

"You are very good to me, Teresa," Dane said. The next second he
realised that he was expressing gratitude to his _fiancee_, for giving
him a chance of escaping her own society, and the realisation infused an
added warmth into his last words. "_Thank_ you, dear."

Quite simply and naturally Teresa lifted her arms, and clasped them
round his neck. She did not kiss him, but she laid her fresh, cool
cheek against his, and said:

"I love you, Dane. I shall always be good to you."

Peignton went out into the road hating himself because the sound of that
"always" had dried up the spring of tenderness. God help him, he wanted
nothing of this girl which should last for always! If he were free of
her to-day he would remember her all his life with gratitude and
affection, but those twining arms chafed him like a chain.

Peignton took Teresa at her word, and paid no visit to the Cottage for
the rest of the week. He sent down a hamper of flowers, however, with
an envelope enclosing a short note written on his thickest paper, which
to the maternal eye might give the effect of length. He would not be
less careful of Teresa's feelings than she had been of his, and he knew
well that to allow three days to pass without visit or message would
stamp him in Mrs Mallison's eyes as neglectful and unappreciative. The
best flowers which the hothouses afforded were collected to fill that
hamper.

Since the announcement of his engagement it had been an understanding
that Pe