old Mrs. Douglass, "to find you so considerate."

"I get very little credit," sighed Lady Douglass.

As they waited on the croquet lawn to take their turn, Henry remarked to
Gertie that no opportunity had yet been found for their long talk;
looking down at her affectionately, he added that perhaps she could guess
all that was in his mind. It had been perfectly splendid, he went on in
his boyish way, simply magnificent, to be near to her for so long a
period of time; they would have many week-ends similar to this. His
mother had spoken approvingly of Gertie, and nothing else mattered. The
girl kept her eyes on her mallet; she could not bring herself to the
point of arresting his speech.

"We are waiting for yellow," said Lady Douglass resignedly.

Miss Loriner and Clarence seemed to lose interest in the game as it
proceeded; later, they were missing when their colours were called. Lady
Douglass, throwing down her mallet, delivered a brief oration. If people
intended to play golf-croquet, they should play golf-croquet; if, on the
other hand, they did not propose to play golf-croquet, they should say,
frankly and openly, that they did not propose to play golf-croquet.
Deploring the lack of candour and straight-forwardness, she pronounced
the game at an end.

"Where are you going, Henry?" He answered promptly. "Come back! I
don't want you to go to the billiard-room. You dare not ask me why; you
must just comply with this one wish of mine."

"Have you any reasons?"

"The best of reasons." She exhibited a considerable amount of agitation;
her head went from side to side. "Do please obey me. If you do not, you
will regret it to the last hour of your life."

He stared at her curiously.

"I rather fancy," interposed Gertie, breaking the pause, "that I'm the
best one to explain." She was standing beside old Mrs. Douglass, and as
she spoke she gripped at the back of the wicker chair. "I don't like
this mystery where I am concerned. Lady Douglass came to the door of the
billiard-room whilst Mr. Langham and me--Mr. Langham and I were there.
The door was locked. She had it burst open."

Henry held out his hand appealingly. "That can't be all," he urged.

"It's all that matters."

"Where is Jim?" he demanded of Lady Douglass.

"I am not my brother's keeper, but I believe he has gone down into the
village."

"There's something more I've got to say," Gertie went on. Her voice
trembled; she made an effo