mooth. Her manner was that of a commander-in-chief,
competent but unfortunate, in the midst of a great reverse.

"He has not been here this afternoon?"

"No," answered Sir John, closing the door behind him.

"And you have not heard anything from him?"

"Not a word. As you know, I am not fortunate enough to be fully in his
confidence."

Lady Cantourne glanced round the room as if looking for some object upon
which to fix her attention. It was a characteristic movement which he
knew, although he had only seen it once or twice before. It indicated
that if there was an end to Lady Cantourne's wit, she had almost reached
that undesirable bourne.

"He has broken off his engagement," she said, looking her companion very
straight in the face, "NOW--at the eleventh hour. Do you know anything
about it?"

She came closer to him, looking up from her compact little five-feet-two
with discerning eyes.

"John!" she exclaimed.

She came still nearer and laid her gloved hands upon his sleeve.

"John! you know something about this."

"I should like to know more," he said suavely. "I am afraid--Millicent
will be inconvenienced."

Lady Cantourne looked keenly at him for a moment. Physically she almost
stood on tip-toe, mentally she did it without disguise. Then she turned
away and sat on a chair which had always been set apart for her.

"It is a question," she said gravely, "whether any one has a right to
punish a woman so severely."

The corner of Sir John's mouth twitched.

"I would rather punish her than have Jack punished for the rest of his
life."

"Et moi?" she snapped impatiently.

"Ah!" with a gesture learnt in some foreign court, "I can only ask your
forgiveness. I can only remind you that she is not your daughter--if she
were she would be a different woman--while he IS my son."

Lady Cantourne nodded as if to indicate that he need explain no more.

"How did you do it?" she asked quietly.

"I did not do it. I merely suggested to Guy Oscard that he should
call on you. Millicent and her fiance--the other--were alone in the
drawing-room when we arrived. Thinking that I might be de trop I
withdrew, and left the young people to settle it among themselves, which
they have apparently done! I am, like yourself, a great advocate for
allowing young people to settle things among themselves. They are
also welcome to their enjoyment of the consequences so far as I am
concerned."

"But Millicent was never engaged to