hael thought grimly
what an absurd paradox it was, that in order to make her consent to
marry him, he like the others must play upon the baser side of her
yielding nature. There were difficulties of packing and of choosing
frocks and hats, but Michael had his way through them all.

"Quite an elopement," Mrs. Gainsborough proclaimed.

"A very virtuous elopement," said Michael, with a laugh.

"Oh, but shan't I catch it when that Hottentot comes back!"

"Well, it's Sylvia's fault," said Lily fretfully. "She shouldn't worry
me all the time to know whether I like her better than anyone else in
the world."

The man arrived with a truck for the luggage.

"Where are you going?" Mrs. Gainsborough asked. "I declare, you're like
two babes in the wood."

"To my sister's in Huntingdonshire," said Michael, and he wrote out the
address.

"Oh, in the country! Well, Summer'll be on us before we know where we
are. I declare, my snowdrops are quite finished."

"Is your sister pretty?" Lily asked, as they were driving to King's
Cross.

"She's handsome," said Michael. "You'll like her, I think. And her
husband was a great friend of mine. By the way, I must send a wire to
say we're coming."

CHAPTER VII

THE GATE OF IVORY

It was only when he was sitting opposite to Lily in a first class
compartment that Michael began to wonder if their sudden arrival would
create a kind of consternation at Hardingham. He managed to reassure
himself when he looked at her. The telegram might have puzzled Stella,
but in meeting Lily she would understand his action. Nevertheless, he
felt a little anxious when he saw the Hardingham brougham waiting
outside the little station. The cold drive of four miles through the
still, misty evening gave him too long to meditate the consequences of
his action. Impulse was very visibly on trial, and he began to fear a
little Stella's judgment of it. The carriage-lamps splashed the
hedgerows monotonously, and the horses' breath curled round the rigid
form of the coachman. Trees, hedges, gates, signposts went past in the
blackness and chill. Michael drew Lily close, and asked in a whisper if
she were happy.

"It makes me sleepy driving like this," she murmured. Her head was on
his shoulder; the astrakan collar was silky to his chin. So she traveled
until they reached the gates of the park: then Michael woke her up.

There was not time to do much but dress quickly for dinner when they
arrived, though