im from outside.
If he knew--well, yes, he might possibly think it his duty to be near me.
But not because he cared. You see--he doesn't. His love is quite dead.
And"--she began to shiver--"I don't like dead things; they frighten me.
So you won't let anyone tell him; promise me!"

"But, my dear, he would love the child--his child," urged Hilda softly.

"Oh, that would be worse!" Chris turned sharply from her. "If he loved
the child--and--and--hated the mother!"

"Chris! Chris! You are torturing yourself with morbid ideas! Such a thing
would be impossible."

"Not with him," said Chris, shuddering. "He is not like Percy, you know.
You think him gentle and kind, but he is quite different, really. He is
as hard--and as cold--as iron. Ah, here is Noel!" She broke off with
obvious relief. "Come in, dear old boy. I've been wondering where you
were."

Noel came in. He usually haunted Chris's room during the day. The
Davenants had done their utmost to persuade him to go to school, but Noel
had taken the conduct of his affairs into his own hands, and firmly
refused.

"I shan't go while Chris is ill," he declared flatly. "We'll see what
she's like at the mid-term."

Jack's authority was invoked in vain, for Jack was on the youngster's
side.

"I've squared him," said Noel, with satisfaction. "Of course, I'm sorry
to be a burden to you, Hilda, but I'll pay up when I come of age."

Which promise invariably silenced Hilda's protests, and made Lord Percy
chuckle.

Aunt Philippa was still absent upon her autumn round of visits, a
circumstance for which Noel was openly and devoutly thankful. Not that
her influence was by any means paramount with him, but her presence might
of itself have been sufficient to drive him away. The only person who
could really manage him was his brother-in-law, but as he had apparently
forgotten Noel's very existence, it seemed unlikely that his authority
would be brought to bear upon him. Meanwhile, Noel swaggered in and out
of his sister's presence, penniless but content, and Chris plainly liked
to have him.

On the present occasion he interrupted their conversation without
apology, pushed Chris's feet to one side, and seated himself on the end
of the sofa.

"Do you mind if I smoke?" he said to Hilda.

"Yes, I do," said Hilda.

"All right, then. You'd better go." He pulled a clay pipe out of his
pocket, and an envelope that contained tobacco. "I know Chris doesn't
mind," he said, with a t