ings that
they were able to discard. They were Pagan together.

But Rachel? Rachel?

Well, Rachel did not matter. It would be a rather good sight to see
Rachel suffer, to watch her proud spirit up against something that she
could not understand.

And meanwhile the Beaminster family was strengthened by a great addition
and the campaign against this new generation, that refused to be led,
that wished to lead, that thought itself so very, very brilliant, should
go victoriously forward....

"Sir Roderick Seddon, your Grace."

As she looked at the healthy and red-faced Roddy sitting opposite to
her, for an instant, some sharp warning, some foreordained consciousness
of trouble to come, bade her pause. She knew that a word from her, now,
would be enough to prevent the match. He would not prosecute it were she
against it. After all, ought Roddy to marry anybody? Could a girl, as
ignorant of the world as Rachel, put up any fight against Roddy's simple
complexities?

What, after all, did Roddy think of the girl? Did he imagine that he was
in love with her? Did he know her, understand her?

Then, looking at him, the affection that she had for him--the only
affection that she had for anyone in the world--swept over her. This
marriage would bind him to her, would give her another ally before the
world--yes, it should go on.

She smiled at him.

"Well, Roddy, have you no news for me, now?"

He had been silent, gazing before him, his brows puckered.

Now he smiled back at her.

"Well, there's been the usual doin's the last week or two. I've been
dancin' every night till I'm tired. 'Bout time for the country agen----"

"Have you been down to Seddon at all?"

"Yes. Two nights last week--all dried up--Place wants me a bit oftener
down there----"

"What's this I hear about young Olive Ormond marrying Besset Crewe's
daughter?"

"So they say--can't imagine it myself. The girl's about eighty-four and
a half and he's the most awful kid. Saw them at the opera the other
night----"

"What about Scotland this summer, Roddy? Are you going?"

"Don't think so. Depends----"

Then there was silence. The little conversation had been as stiff as it
was possible a conversation could be. The China dragons must have
wondered--never before so constrained a dialogue between these two!

Now another pause, then suddenly Roddy, his hands clutching one another,
his face redder than ever--

"I want--I wonder--dash it--have I your lea