alarmed Olivia excessively. She must have vexed him, indeed, if he
could do such a thing as that, and here one or two bright drops ran
down on the blue pelisse.

She was actually crying like a scolded child, when two or three minutes
later the parlour-door opened and Marcus entered. His face wore a
queer expression, and in each hand he held an exquisite bunch of
hot-house flowers; their perfume reached Olivia before he laid them
before her.

"There, Olive," he said, "I take back my words;" then, as he caught
sight of her tear-stained face: "Oh, you foolish little woman, you
absurd child," but his hand rested affectionately on her soft, brown
hair, as she put back her head against him.

"Oh, Marcus, I could not help crying to think I had vexed you so.
Somehow it is the one thing I cannot bear, to think my foolish tongue
should have harmed you."

"I was in an awful funk, certainly," returned Marcus, frankly, "but I
never meant to bother you like that. Cheer up, Livy, I daresay it is
all right, and I know you will be a model of discretion for the future.
Aren't you going to look at your flowers?" and then Olivia did permit
herself to be consoled.

"Think of his cutting all those lovely flowers for me," she cried,
ecstatically. "Is he not an old dear, Marcus? But why two bouquets?"
knitting her brows in a puzzled fashion.

"You had better open that folded slip of paper," suggested her husband,
sensibly, "it may explain matters," and Olivia took his advice.

"Mrs. Luttrell, with Mr. Gaythorne's compliments," was pencilled in a
shaky hand, and on the second slip, almost illegibly, "For Mrs.
Luttrell's aunt."

"Oh, Marcus, how sweet of him!" and Olivia looked almost lovely in her
excitement, and Marcus agreed that he was a good old sort.

"If you are going to write a note of thanks, you must just hurry up, as
it is nearly time for me to go across," and then Olivia put the flowers
in water, and got out her writing-case.

CHAPTER VI.

"I REMIND YOU OF SOMEONE?"

"The fire in the flint
Shows not till it be struck."--_Timon of Athens_.

Although Marcus had other visits to pay, and would not be back until
quite late, Olivia sat up for him on pretence of finishing Dot's pelisse,
but to her disappointment he had very little to tell her on his return.

Mr. Gaythorne had been tired and out of spirits, and he had had no
inducement to prolong his visit; he had not read Olivia's note, only
placed it