me and come
in among the flowers, where it's quiet and dim."

Millicent was tempted to agree. She liked the man and felt sorry for
him; he was frank, rather handsome, and generally a pleasant companion,
but she thought their friendship was ripening too fast and was not
prepared to see it change to something deeper Indeed, since it was
pleasant to be sought after, she feared she had allowed herself to
drift too far, and now the time to pull up had come.

"No," she said, "I must stay here."

He looked at her rather hard, for there was decision in her tone and he
was not dull. She was very attractive; he liked her thoughtful
expression and her gentle firmness. Half-consciously he compared her
with the highly polished, clever woman, who had at first fascinated
him, and his appreciation of the girl grew stronger. Mrs. Chudleigh,
who did not improve upon close acquaintance, had been inclined to leave
him alone of late, and though he could not resent this he had an
unflattering suspicion that he had somehow been made use of and had
served his turn. Miss Graham was different; she was genuine, which was
the word that occurred to him, and he was growing fond of her.

"As you wish, of course," he said. "Am I allowed to remain?"

She indicated a place on the corner seat and when he took it began to
talk, carefully avoiding any personal topic, but after a time he
interrupted her--

"I heard Mrs. Keith say she was going to the Vivians in Durham later.
I suppose she will take you?"

Millicent said she believed so, and he continued: "It's possible I may
turn up there."

He watched her closely, but could see nothing that suggested
satisfaction.

"Do you know the people?" she inquired.

"I used to know Herbert Vivian, though I haven't seen him for some
time. No doubt, if he got a hint he'd ask me down."

"It's a high, bleak place," said Millicent. "We were nearly frozen on
our last visit, and I'm afraid you wouldn't find the cold good for you.
Were you not recommended to stay in Devonshire?"

Walters gave her a half-indignant glance. "When that brute of a hill
man knocked me out I'd no suspicion how much his shot would cost me.
Anyhow, I'm not going to Devonshire, and I ventured to think you might
have been glad to see me at the Vivians'."

"Why should I wish you to do an unwise thing?" Millicent asked.

"That's an evasion," he answered bluntly. "I'll be candid. This place
won't be the same after you have go