rld of ours--but
none of us can afford to play the knight errant too long, so when next
I meet Cynthia it will be as a man who occupies a social position that
renders our marriage at least possible."

Lord Fairholme threw out his hands in a gesture of sheer bewilderment.

"And do you honestly believe that?" he exclaimed.

"I am quite sure of it. I may have to jump a very big fence indeed
when she learns the harmless deception I have practiced on her, but I
do hope most devoutly that she will look at the facts more calmly than
you have done."

The Earl took a turn or two on the hearth-rug, from which wisdom had
temporarily taken flight. He thought now he could see a way to avoid
open rupture, and he believed, quite rightly, that his son was in no
mood to accept further disillusionment.

"At any rate," he grumbled, "you are cutting a discred--sorry, I
didn't quite mean that--you are not rushing away from town again in
pursuit of the young lady?"

"No."

"When is she due back in London?"

"On Sunday."

"And you will not see her before that day?"

"I believe not--in fact, I am fairly certain of it. Mrs. Leland joined
her at Chester last night, so there should be no curtailment of the
tour."

The Earl started.

"Mrs. Leland! Not the Mrs. Leland of Paris, and San Remo?"

"Yes. By hazard, as it were, you have let me tell you why I came
away--one of the reasons. Mrs. Leland would have recognized me at
once."

"Dear me, dear me, this is a beastly muddle! Look here, George,
promise me you won't do anything stupid for a day or so.... I have
been so pestered by people ... I don't know which way to turn. Why not
stay and meet your aunt?"

"Because I might lose my temper with _her_."

"Ah, well, she _is_ somewhat trying when it comes to family matters.
Still, I may tell her----"

"That she ought to mind her own business? By all means. And oblige me,
too, by telling her that she would confer a boon on humanity if she
persuaded Lady Porthcawl to go to--Jericho--or Tokio--or wherever that
ass, Porthcawl, may happen to be."

"Millicent Porthcawl was at Bournemouth, you know."

"Yes, I spoke to her. She had the impudence to introduce Ducrot to
Cynthia."

"By gad! Did she, though? I heard something from Scarland about that
affair. Well, well--there's no accounting for tastes. I suppose
you realize, George, that I am keeping back a good deal of the
tittle-tattle which reached me during your absence. I don't want