we were here."

It had been turned into a paradise since then, and every second brought
fresh discoveries to her ecstatic gaze.

"I didn't know it could be so lovely," she declared. "And you've done it
all in a few weeks. Trevor, you're a magician!"

He smiled at her enthusiasm. "Oh, it isn't all my doing. I have only been
down twice since the day you were here. I put it into capable hands,
that's all. Nothing has been altered, only set to rights."

"It's lovely!" cried Chris.

Tired and thirsty though she was, she could hardly wait to have tea on
the terrace before the house before she was off along the dear, familiar
paths to her favourite nook under a great yew-tree whose branches swept
the ground. A rustic seat surrounded the ancient trunk.

"This is my castle," said Chris. "This is where I hide when I don't want
anyone to find me."

She stretched back a hand to her husband, and led him into her shadowy
domain.

"The boys used to call it Hades," she said, in a hushed voice. "And I
used to pretend I was Persephone. I did so wish Pluto would appear some
day with his chariot and his black horses and take me underground. But,"
with a sigh, "he never did."

"Let us hope you have been reserved for a happier fate," Mordaunt said,
with his arm about her.

She flashed him her quick smile. "You instead of Pluto! But I always
thought he was rather fascinating, and I longed to see the underworld."

"I think the sunshine suits you best," he said.

"Oh yes, but just to see--just to know what it's like! I do so love
exploring," insisted Chris.

He smiled and drew her out of her gloomy retreat. "Sometimes it's better
not to know too much," he said.

"But one couldn't," she protested. "All knowledge is gain."

"Of a sort," he said. "But it is not always to be desired on that
account."

A sudden memory went through Chris. She gave a sharp shudder. "Oh no!"
she said. "One doesn't want to know horrid things! I forgot that."

He looked at her interrogatively, but she turned her face away. "Let's go
back to the house. I wonder where Cinders is."

They returned to the house, and again Chris was lost in delight. A great
deal yet remained to be done, but the completed portion was all that
could be desired. They had chosen much of the furniture together, and she
spent most of the evening in arranging it, with her husband's assistance,
to her satisfaction.

But when at length the hour for dinner arrived he would not s