r sea. It was a
Sunday afternoon, and several people had dropped in to tea. The
engagement had been announced the previous day, and Mordaunt had dropped
in also to give his young _fiancee_ the benefit of his support. Chris,
however, was not, to judge by appearances, needing any support. She
seemed, in fact, to be frankly enjoying herself. The high spirits which
her aunt deplored were very much in evidence at that moment. Her gay
laugh reached him where he sat. Being engaged was evidently the greatest
fun.

"They are all like that," continued Mrs. Forest, with her air of one
fulfilling an unpleasant duty--"all except Max, who is frankly
objectionable. Gay, _debonnaire_, fascinating, I grant you, but so
deplorably unstable. Those boys--well, I have never dared to encourage
them here, for I know too well what it would mean. If you are really
thinking of buying their old home for yourself and Chris, do be on your
guard or you will never keep them at arms' length."

"Kellerton Old Park will be Chris's property exclusively," Mordaunt
replied gravely. "If she cares to have her brothers there, she will be
quite at liberty to do so."

"My dear Trevor, you are far too kind," protested Mrs. Forest. "I see you
are going to spoil them right and left. They will simply live on you if
you do that. You won't find yourself master in your own house."

"No?" said Mordaunt, with a smile.

Chris was coming towards him. He rose to meet her.

"Oh, Trevor," she said eagerly, "I can go down to Kellerton with you
to-morrow, and Max has written to say he will join us there. I am so glad
he can get away. I haven't seen him since Christmas."

"Isn't he coming to your birthday party?" asked Jack Forest, strolling up
at that moment.

He addressed Chris, but he looked at his mother, who, after the briefest
pause, made reply, "Of course Chris can ask whom she likes."

"Oh, can I?" exclaimed Chris. "How heavenly! Then I will get Rupert to
come too. I wish Noel might, but I suppose he is out of the question."

She slipped a hand surreptitiously inside Jack's arm as her aunt moved
away, and squeezed it. She knew quite well that the party itself had been
of his devising--an informal dance to celebrate her twenty-first
birthday, which was less than a fortnight away.

Jack smiled upon her indulgently. "Are you going to ask me to your
birthday party, Chris?"

"No," said Chris. "I shall never ask you anywhere. You have a free pass
always so far a