rtist admiring his model.
"Don't you think so?"

"Yes," said Romer.

"She looks like a golden rose," Harry went on. He wanted to please Val,
who he saw was annoyed with him, and to emphasise the openness of his
admiration to Romer. "Doesn't she?"

"Quite," said her husband.

Harry felt the morning was spoilt and the situation absurd. He could not
bear to be thwarted in any way. He went back to his own room, bounced
angrily on to his bed, and went to sleep again, after having seen
Valentia through the window helping to push the mower, and saying to
himself--

"How like a woman! I shall go up to town with Van Buren and send a wire
to Alec."

This was his revenge.

Their momentary fears about Romer were completely dissipated. He seemed
exactly as usual. As a rule he was even-tempered. Not many people had
seen him put out, though he could be very angry, except with Valentia.
During this day he seemed, for him, a little irritable. Perhaps, Val
thought, through getting up too early.

Harry went up to town with Van Buren for the day, intending to return
the same evening. He soon recovered himself in the course of copious
confidences in the train. As soon as he had arrived in London he began
to count the minutes before he should go back.

Valentia expected the elder Mrs. Wyburn to lunch.

"What shall we do with her to-day?" Val asked Daphne. "She must be kept
in a good temper, because it's the last time she'll come down before
going to Bournemouth. It's rather a pity they've all gone. Romer is sure
to say the wrong thing to her--let out some trifle that we have been
carefully concealing for months--praise up Harry, or something."

"Doesn't she like Harry?"

"Since he went to see her she likes him for herself, but not for me."

"What cheek! But he's not here."

"No, if he were she might like him again all right. Then, Romer talks
too slowly for her. Her mind works quicker than his, and one can only
deal with him by racing on in front, and turning round to beckon. With
Mrs. Wyburn there are only two things that are any use--dash and
volubility. It's difficult to keep the thing going when she's alone with
us."

"Well, why not pass the time this afternoon by returning the Campbells'
visit, and take Mrs. Wyburn with us to 'The Angles'?" Daphne suggested.

"Oh no! It's treating them almost like royalty to go so soon. And
there's the Belgian man."

"Doesn't she like Belgians then, Val?"

"I've never asked her.