dn't bear to break a promise to _you_--but
I will do my best to avoid the deadly thing for the rest of my life."

He pressed her hand gently, then dropped it as a sudden loud knock
sounded on the door.

"Come in." They turned to see who the visitor might be; and to the
surprise of both in walked Bruce Cheniston, an unmistakable frown on his
face.

"Hullo! It is you, after all, Iris!" Anstice noted the use of her
Christian name, and in the same moment remembered there was a
long-standing friendship between the families. "I thought it was your
motor-cycle I found by the roadside, with a lanky yokel mounting guard
over it; and he said something about an accident----"

"Nothing very serious." Iris smiled at him in friendly fashion, and his
face cleared. "I skidded--or the bicycle did--and I fell off and cut my
wrist."

"I found Miss Wayne sitting by the roadside binding up her wound,"
interposed Anstice rather coldly, "and persuaded her to come in here and
have it properly seen to. If it had not been for the rain she would have
been on her way home by now."

"I see. It was lucky you passed." Evidently Iris' presence prevented any
display of hostility. "Well, the rain is over now, but"--he glanced at
Iris' bandaged wrist--"you oughtn't to ride home if you're disabled.
What do you say, Dr. Anstice?"

"I think, seeing it is the right wrist, it would be neither wise nor
easy for Miss Wayne to ride," said Anstice professionally, and Cheniston
nodded.

"Well, we will leave the cycle here, and send one of the men for it
presently," he said. "Luckily I have got Chloe's car, and I can soon run
you over, Iris. I suppose that is your motor outside?" he added, turning
to Anstice with sudden briskness.

"Yes." Anstice glanced towards the window. "It is fine now, and I must
be off, at any rate."

He packed the things he had used back into their little case, and turned
towards the door.

"Good morning, Miss Wayne. I hope your wrist won't give you any further
pain."

"Good-bye, Dr. Anstice." She held out her left hand with a smile. "Ever
so many thanks. I don't know what I should have done if you had not
passed just then!"

The trio went out together, after a word to the mistress of the cottage;
and Bruce helped Iris into the car with an air of proprietorship which
did not escape the notice of the other man.

"Hadn't you better start first, Dr. Anstice?" Cheniston spoke with cool
courtesy. "Your time is more valuable th