esponded with a pressing invitation to do so, and he had simply
thanked her and departed.

And so when the morning came Chris was still struggling with her hair
when he arrived, having breakfasted in bed and finally arisen at a
scandalously late hour. But that she knew Aunt Philippa to be also in
bed, she would scarcely have ventured upon such a proceeding. Aunt
Philippa knew nothing of the expected visitor. As a matter of fact Chris,
in her airy fashion, had quite forgotten to mention the matter. Mrs.
Forest, being still uncertain as to Mordaunt's state of mind, had
discreetly foreborne to put the girl on her guard. She had at the
beginning of things carefully instilled into her that it was essential
that she should miss no opportunity of making a wealthy marriage, and she
hoped that Chris would have the sense to bear this in mind.

Had she known of Mordaunt's coming she would probably have drilled her
carefully beforehand, but luckily Chris's negligence spared her this. And
so on that sunny summer morning she was sublimely unconscious of what was
before her, and entered Mordaunt's presence at length almost at a run.
Chris at twenty was very little older than Chris at seventeen.

"I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting," was her greeting. "Really I
couldn't help it. I just couldn't get up this morning. You know how one
feels after going to bed at four. It was very nice of you to come so
early. Have you had any breakfast?"

All this was poured out while her hand lay in his, her gay young face
uplifted, half-merry, half-confiding.

Yes, Mordaunt had breakfasted. He told her so with a faint smile. "And
please don't apologize for being late," he added. "It is I who am early.
I came early on purpose. I wanted to see you alone."

"Oh?" said Chris.

She looked at him interrogatively and then quite suddenly she knew what
he had come to say, and turned white to the lips. For the first time she
was afraid of him.

"Oh, please," she gasped rather incoherently, "please--"

"Shall we sit down?" he said gently. "I am not going to do or say
anything that need frighten you. If you were a little older you would
realize that I am at your mercy, not you at mine."

She looked at him wide-eyed, imploring. "Please, Mr. Mordaunt, can't
we--can't we wait a little? I am afraid, I am so afraid of--of making a
mistake."

The faint smile was still upon his face, though it did not reach his
eyes. He laid a reassuring hand upon her shou