course, are out of the category.
But as you stood there, with Banshee's nose over your shoulder you
fitted quite beautifully in with everything. I don't believe I should
mind you, ever, anywhere, and yet I more naturally think of you at
Newport, don't you see?"

Her companion cried: "Oh, no, I'm in England, and you can't alter the
fact, at least if you can, please don't; for Newport on the fifteenth
of December, and with no such tea or fire----"

"Oh," she permitted, "you may stay. I said you fitted--only----"

Bulstrode interposed: "Don't at least for a few moments entertain any
'buts' and 'onlys'--they are nearly as bad as those magical travelling
trunks that would transport me to the United States. It is so--let me
say--neutral in this place, I should think I might remain. I don't
know why you are here or with whom, nor for how long, or for how deep,
but it is singularly perfect to have found you."

His hostess had left her seat behind the table, and taking a chair by
the fireside where Bulstrode was sitting, undid the ribbons of her
garden hat and let the basket-like object fall on the floor.

"You must promise me, first of all, that you will not say you have seen
me. Otherwise I shall leave here to-morrow and nobody shall ever again
know where I am."

However her command might conflict with what was in his mind, he was
obliged to give her his word. He had no right not to do so.

"And nothing," she said, "must make you break this promise, Mr.
Bulstrode. I know how good you are, and how you do all sorts of
Quixotic funny things, but in this case please--please----"

"Mind my own business?" he nodded. "I will, Duchess, I will."

She looked at him steadily a moment and seemed satisfied, for she
relaxed the tensity of her manner, which was the first Americanism she
had displayed, and in her pretty soft drawl asked him, with less
perfunctory interest than her words implied: "You are at Westboro'?"

"Yes, since the twenty-fifth."

"And you're staying on?"

"I seem to be more or less of a fixture--until the holidays, I expect."

"Lucky you," she breathed, and at his expression of candid surprise she
half laughed. "Oh, I mean as far as the castle goes--isn't it really
too delightful?"

He was able to say honestly: "Quite the most beautiful house I have
ever seen."

"Yes, I think so too," she nodded. "It's not so important as many
others but it's more perfect, more like a home."

Bulstrode sat b