hristine did not know what to say. She knew that this man must be
wondering where Jimmy was; that it was more than probable that he would
write to the Great Horatio and inform him of their chance meeting, and
of anything else which he might discover about her mistaken marriage.

"I don't think Horace knows that his brother is married, does he?" the
man said again, Christine raised her eyes.

"We've only been married ten days," she said tremulously.

"Is that so? Then I am not too late to offer you my most sincere
congratulations, and to wish you every happiness." He took her hand in
a kindly grip.

Christine tried to thank him, but somehow she seemed to have lost her
voice. She moved on across the hall into the dining-room, where there
was a cheery fire burning and tea laid.

"You will have some tea with me," she said. "And then afterwards I
will show you over the house--if you really want to see it?" She
looked up at him wistfully. "I should like you to have it, I think,"
she told him hesitatingly. "If it has got to be sold, I should like to
know that somebody--nice--has bought it."

"Thank you." He stood back to the fire, watching her as she poured out
the tea.

Married--this child! It seemed so absurd. She looked about seventeen.

Suddenly:

"And where is Jimmy?" he asked her abruptly. "I wonder if he would
remember me! Hardly, I expect; it's a great many years since we met."

Christine had been expecting the question; she kept her face averted as
she answered:

"Jimmy is in London; he saw me off this morning. He--he isn't able to
come down just yet."

There was a little silence.

"I see," said Kettering. Only ten days married, and not able to come
down. Jimmy had never done an hour's work in his life, so far as
Kettering could remember. He knew quite well that he was living on an
allowance from his brother; it seemed a curious sort of situation
altogether.

He took his tea from Christine's hands. He noticed that they trembled
a little, as if she were very nervous, he tried to put her at her ease;
he spoke no more of Jimmy.

"I wonder what has happened to your friend?" he said cheerily. "I dare
say she will turn up here directly."

"I hope she will." Christine glanced towards the window; it was
rapidly getting dusk. "I hope she will," she said again
apprehensively. "I should hate having to stay here by myself." She
shivered a little as she spoke. She turned to him suddenly