d," explained Jupp. "Joan saw his 'Form at a Glance,'
without any book. She saw that he was incapable of the higher Life, and
she has gone."

"Nonsense, Harold," cried Millicent Splay in vexation. She turned
towards the stairs, and she gave a little gasp. A woman was standing on
the second step from the floor. But it was not Joan, it was Stella
Croyle.

"I thought you had such a bad headache," said Lady Splay, after a
perceptible pause.

"It's better now, thank you," said Stella, and coming down the remaining
steps, she advanced towards Harry.

"How do you do, Colonel Luttrell?" she asked.

For a moment he was taken aback. Then with the blood mounting in his
face, he took a step forwards and shook hands with her easily.

"So you know one another!" said Lady Splay.

"We have known each other for a long while," returned Stella Croyle.

So that was why Stella Croyle had proposed herself for the week! Lady
Splay had been a little surprised; so persistently had Stella avoided
anything in the shape of a party. But this time Stella had definitely
wished to come, and Millie Splay in her loyalty had not hesitated to
welcome her. But she had been a little curious. Stella's visit, indeed,
was the third, though the least, of her preoccupations. The Ball on the
Thursday of next week at the Willoughby's! Well, Stella was never
lacking in tact. That would arrange itself. But as Millie Splay looked
at her, recognised her beauty, her eager advance to Harry Luttrell, and
Harry Luttrell's embarrassment, she said to herself, for quite other
reasons:

"If I had guessed why she wanted to come, nothing would have persuaded
me to have her."

Millie Splay had more reason to repeat the words before the week was
out.

CHAPTER XXI

THE MAGNOLIA FLOWERS

"I hadn't an idea that we should find her here," said Hillyard. "Lady
Splay told me so very clearly that Mrs. Croyle always timed her visits
to avoid a party."

Hillyard was a little troubled lest he should be thought by his friend
to have concurred in a plot to bring about this meeting.

"I suppose that Hardiman told her you were coming to Rackham Park. I
haven't seen her until this moment, since I returned."

"That's all right, Martin," Luttrell answered.

The two men were alone in the hall. The tennis players had changed, and
were out upon the court. Millie Splay had dragged Stella Croyle away
with her to play croquet. Luttrell moved to a writing-table.

"You are