an," he remarked.

She laughed. "I could if I'd been forced." And then, "By the way, you're
lunching with me, aren't you?"

"I'll be delighted. But, since confessions are the fashion, I may as
well make a clean breast. If I had found that you were upset with what
happened last night, I'd planned to tell you I was off to London."

"But you're not?"

"One doesn't run away from happiness."

He was afraid he had offended. Her expression clouded. She withdrew and
walked a few paces apart. He had come almost to the point of
apologizing, when she turned to him eyes that were misty--suspiciously
misty for a woman who never cried. "I'm glad you had the courage to tell
me, because I haven't felt so happy for---- I daren't own how long."

On entering the Castle, she left him while she went to change for lunch.
As he waited, he reminded himself that in a handful of seconds he would
be meeting Terry. The anticipation provided him with none of the old
elation. With what ecstasy he used to watch for her in days gone by, as
though the world was reborn when she stood before him! Far from feeling
ecstasy, he was filled with uneasiness. Her presence would recall to him
his failure and would mock something beautiful that had commenced in
his life. What that something was he hadn't estimated. All he knew was
that, with the coming of Lady Dawn, every one of his problems had
mysteriously found settlement. He was no longer humiliated. He was once
more sure of his direction. He felt unreasonably strong and triumphant,
as though the goal of his striving was in sight. His old dread of
growing middle-aged impressed him as puerile. Whatever his age, she
would always keep pace with him. She was the same age as he was. Had he
been younger or older, he might have missed her or gone by her with
unseeing eyes.

When he entered the room in which lunch was served, he found that Lady
Dawn was alone. Glancing at the table, he perceived with surprise that
only two covers had been laid. She read the question in his eyes and
answered it.

"Terry's away. I forgot to tell you. She had an early breakfast and
motored into Gloucester before I was up. The car's come back without
her. She's sent no word as to when or how she proposes to return."

"Something urgent?" he asked casually.

"More likely shopping. A woman's shopping's always urgent. I'm no wiser
than you are. The first I heard about her going was when I was informed
she had gone."

He relapse