me to say that if you care to have my
place as her companion, she will be very pleased to have you. I have
been with her for thirteen years and she has always treated me like an
equal. She is very considerate and there is practically nothing to do
but to exercise the dear little dogs. The salary is thirty-five pounds a
year.'"

"But," said Marsh, looking at the envelope in his hand, "the letter is
addressed to Miss Marsh. I'd intended to ask you about that; don't they
know you're married?"

"No. I haven't told them."

"What a lark!" said Reggie, slapping his knee. "You could go back to
Tunbridge Wells, and none of the old frumps would ever know you'd been
married at all."

"Why, so I could!" said Nora in a breathless tone. She gave Hornby a
strange look and turned toward the window to hide the fact that she had
flushed to the roots of her hair.

Her brother gave her a long look.

"Just clear out for a minute, Reg. I want to talk with Nora."

"Right-o!" He disappeared in the direction of the shed.

"Nora, do you _want_ to clear out?"

"What on earth makes you think that I do?"

"You gave Reg such a look when he mentioned it."

"I'm only bewildered. Tell me, did Frank know anything about this?"

"My dear, how could he?"

"It's most extraordinary; he was talking about my going away only a
moment before you came."

"About your going away? But why?"

She realized that she had betrayed herself and kept silent.

"Nora, for goodness' sake tell me if there's anything the matter. Can't
you see it's now or never? You're keeping something back from me. I
could see it all along, ever since I came. Aren't you two getting on
well together?"

"Not very," she said in a low, shamed tone.

"Why in heaven's name didn't you let me know."

"I was ashamed."

"But you just now said he was kind to you."

"I have nothing to reproach him with."

"I tell you I felt there was something wrong. I knew you couldn't be
happy with him. A girl like you, with your education and refinement, and
a man like him--a hired man! Oh, the whole thing would have been
ridiculous if it weren't horrible. Not that he's not a good fellow and
as straight as they make them, but---- Well, thank God, I'm here and
you've got this chance."

"Eddie, what do you mean?"

"You're not fit for this life. I mean you've got your chance to go back
home to England. For God's sake, take it! In six months' time, all
you've gone through here will seem noth