part."

"I know. But though the Churchill men are stubborn, they are Virginians
and they are patriots. This touches their honour and the honour of their
house. If Rand plots at all, he's plotting treason. How much does she
know, how little does she not know? God knows, not I! But they may make
a circle she cannot overstep--no, not for all the magician's piping!" He
rested his forehead upon his clasped hands. "Fair, Fair, she was my
Destiny! Why did he come like a shape of night, with the power of night?
And now he draws her, too, into the shadow. He's treading a road
beset--and they are one flesh; she travels with him. Oh, despair!"

"Have out a warrant against him."

"What proofs? and what disgrace if proved! No, Fair, no."

"Then let me challenge him."

The other smiled. "Should it come to that, I will be the challenger! I
am your senior there. Don't forget it, Fair." He rose from the table.
"Do you remember that first day we rode to Fontenoy when I came home
from England? The place was all in sunshine, all fine gold. She was
standing on the porch beside Major Edward; she lifted her hand and
shaded her eyes with a fan--there was a flower in her hair. Three years!
I am worn with those three years." For a moment he rested his hand on
the other's shoulder. "Fair, Fair, you know happy love--may you never
know unhappy love! I am going now to Fontenoy. Is there a message for
Unity?"

CHAPTER XXI

THE CEDAR WOOD

Jacqueline closed the door of her aunt's chamber softly behind her,
passed through the Fontenoy hall, and came out upon the wide porch.
There, in the peace of the September afternoon, she found Unity alone
with the Lay of the Last Minstrel. "Aunt Nancy is asleep," she said. "I
left Mammy Chloe beside her. Unity, I think she's better."

"So the doctor said this morning."

"I think she's beginning to remember. She looks strangely at me."

"If she does remember, she'll want you still!"

Jacqueline shook her head. "I think not. How lovely it is, this
afternoon! The asters are all in bloom in the garden, and the gum tree
is turning red." She threw a gauze scarf over her head. "I am going down
to the old gate by the narrow road."

"I wish," said Unity, "that I had the ordering of the universe for just
one hour! Then Christians would become Christian, and you wouldn't have
to meet your husband outside the gates of home."

The other laughed a little. "Oh, Unity, Christians won't be Christian,
and e