ght into their faces.

"I have come to say good-bye," he said. "I find that I must go to
town by the four o'clock train to push my arrangements in person; the
telegrams I have received breathe nothing but delay. Have you seen the
'Times'?"

"I have indeed," said Sir Charles, emphatically.

"You are in some other paper too, and will be in half-a-dozen more in
the course of the next fortnight. Men who have committed themselves to
an opinion are always in trouble with the newspapers; some because they
cannot get into them, others because they cannot keep out. If you had
put forward a thundering revolutionary manifesto, not a daily paper
would have dared allude to it: there is no cowardice like Fleet Street
cowardice! I must run off; I have much to do before I start, and it is
getting on for three. Good-bye, Lady Brandon, and everybody."

He shook Jane's hand, dealt nods to the rest rapidly, making no
distinction in favor of Agatha, and hurried away. They stared after him
for a moment and then Erskine ran out and went downstairs two steps at a
time. Nevertheless he had to run as far as the avenue before he overtook
his man.

"Trefusis," he said breathlessly, "you must not go by the four o'clock
train."

"Why not?"

"Miss Lindsay is going to town by it."

"So much the better, my dear boy; so much the better. You are not
jealous of me now, are you?"

"Look here, Trefusis. I don't know and I don't ask what there has been
between you and Miss Lindsay, but your engagement has quite upset her,
and she is running away to London in consequence. If she hears that you
are going by the same train she will wait until to-morrow, and I believe
the delay would be very disagreeable. Will you inflict that additional
pain upon her?"

Trefusis, evidently concerned, looking doubtfully at Erskine, and
pondered for a moment. "I think you are on a wrong scent about this,"
he said. "My relations with Miss Lindsay were not of a sentimental kind.
Have you said anything to her--on your own account, I mean?"

"I have spoken to her on both accounts, and I know from her own lips
that I am right."

Trefusis uttered a low whistle.

"It is not the first time I have had the evidence of my senses in the
matter," said Erskine significantly. "Pray think of it seriously,
Trefusis. Forgive my telling you frankly that nothing but your own utter
want of feeling could excuse you for the way in which you have acted
towards her."

Trefusis smiled.