ys,
"GILBERT HEREFORD VAUGHAN."

He waited a moment, and then added--

"I will turn up to-morrow at four. Try not to forget me till then."

For the rest of the day he was in high spirits. The letter seemed to
keep him up through the various little bothers of the day. He had been
going to France for the summer. He admitted to himself that this
semi-flirtation was keeping him in England. He didn't like the idea of
going away very long from the possibility of turning up at the
"Bald-faced Stag."

The explanation Harry gave about Johnson's telegram satisfied Valentia
for the time, as he declined the invitation to Cowes, but the incident
left an uneasy feeling in Val's mind. She could not bear to own to
herself that he was deceiving her, and he hadn't the courage to give it
away yet, not that he cared so very much about hurting her, but he was
happier at the Green Gate than anywhere else. He liked the house, the
atmosphere, and Romer; but what kept him most was, of course, that
curious charm Valentia had for him, which was perhaps stronger than ever
because he knew that the end was not far off. He often thought he was a
fool not to have taken the opportunity to break it off on this occasion.
He couldn't stand the idea of not seeing her, just because of the way
her hair grew on her forehead! So low, and in such thick waves! Alec
Walmer's hair, also fair, was thin and unmeaning. She had a low
forehead, and yet the hair began high up. In the evening when it was
carefully arranged, and the iron had entered into it, it looked like a
stiff transformation, even worse than when left to nature.

But of course, in spite of the reconciliation, a residue of mistrust
remained, and on his side a sensation of restlessness which left him
irritable; less amiable and pleasant than usual.

They were sitting on the little terrace. He was smoking and reading the
paper. He suddenly threw it down and said--

"How quiet you are, Val! Why don't you talk?"

"I don't think I've got anything to say."

"You seem depressed," he said, rather aggressively.

"I feel a little depressed."

Harry gave expression to the usual injustice of the unfaithful.

"What a mistake women make in being gloomy! How foolish it is. Shall I
tell you the key of the whole situation between men and women?"

"Do."

"Well, dear, it's just--a _smile_. Never be dull, never be ill, never be
depressed. Be gay--always gay. Th