ne."

Millicent was silent a moment. She knew he wanted a tacit admission
that their acquaintance need not end with her visit to Hazlehurst, but
he would be right in attaching some significance to her action if she
made it. The man, who had only known her a few weeks, could go no
further yet, and he was eminently likeable, but she would not lead him
on.

"That," she said, "was very nice of you, but you will soon get used to
the change."

"You may," he replied with rather bitter humour.

"After all," said Millicent, "one meets pleasant people here and there,
and though one regrets it has to part from them."

Looking at her fixedly, he understood. Her expression was quietly
resolute, and he recognized that their friendship must shortly come to
an end. The girl knew her mind and had obviously made it up.

"Well," he said in a resigned tone, "you won't be forgotten. I must
get back to India as soon as I can."

By and by he went away and Mrs. Keith joined Millicent.

"What have you been saying to Walters?" she asked. "I met him going
out, and he looked very crestfallen."

"He hinted that he might follow us to the Vivians' and I suggested that
it was too cold a place for him," Millicent answered with a blush.

"I see," remarked Mrs. Keith, who was sometimes blunt. "Well, I
daresay you were wise; though I'm told he'll be captain shortly, and he
has his good points, Jimmy is no catch. You certainly might do better."

Millicent turned her head, half-indignant, half-embarrassed, and Mrs.
Keith laughed.

"My dear," she resumed gently, "I'm glad you have some sense. It's
perhaps not impossible for the wife of a young Indian officer to live
upon her husband's pay, but unless they're exceptional people it's apt
to lead to disaster."

"It wasn't that," Millicent protested, unwilling to be suspected of a
mercenary mind, and Mrs. Keith's eyes twinkled.

"Then what was it that influenced you?"

As the girl did not answer, she turned away and left her to face the
question. It proved troublesome, for Millicent was not daunted by
poverty and could find no fault with Walters; indeed, she was sensible
of some esteem for him. Then, though she would not admit that this was
her reason for checking his advances, her thoughts centred on another
man. He was in disgrace, but she remembered how chivalrously and
adroitly he had come to her rescue in London and had again been of
assistance on the St. Lawrence steamer. H