d."

"And now," Lady Tanagra began when Bowen had taken Miss Brent's cup
from her. "I must explain all about this little romance and how it
came about."

Patricia caught Bowen's eye, and saw in it a look of eager interest.

"Patricia wanted to do war work in her spare time," continued Lady
Tanagra, "so she applied to the V.A.D. at St. George's Crescent. I am
on the committee and, by a happy chance," Lady Tanagra smiled across to
Patricia, "she was sent to me. I saw she was not strong and dissuaded
her."

Miss Brent nodded approval.

"I explained," continued Lady Tanagra, "that the work was very hard,
and that it was not necessarily patriotic to overwork so as to get ill.
Doctors have quite enough to do."

Again Miss Brent nodded agreement.

"I think we liked each other from the first," again Lady Tanagra smiled
across at Patricia, "and I asked her to come and have tea with me, and
we became friends. Finally, one day when we were enjoying a quiet talk
here in the lounge, this big brother of mine comes along and spoils
everything." Lady Tanagra regarded Bowen with reproachful eyes.

"Spoiled everything?" enquired Miss Brent.

"Yes; by falling in love with my friend, and in a most treacherous
manner she must do the same." Lady Tanagra's tone was matter-of-fact
enough to deceive a misanthropist.

Patricia's cheeks burned and her eyes fell beneath the gaze of the
others. She felt as a man might who reads his own obituary notices.

"And why was I not told, her sole surviving relative?" Miss Brent
rapped out the question with the air of a counsel for the prosecution.

"That was my fault," broke in Bowen.

Three pairs of eyes were instantly turned upon him. Miss Brent
suspicious, Lady Tanagra admiring, Patricia wondering.

"And why, may I ask?" enquired Miss Brent.

"I wanted it to be a secret between Patricia and me," explained Bowen
easily.

"But, Lady Tanagra----" There was a note in Miss Brent's voice that
Patricia recognised as a soldier does the gas-gong.

"Oh!" replied Bowen, "she finds out everything; but I only told her at
lunch to-day."

"And he told me as if I had not already discovered the fact for
myself," laughed Lady Tanagra.

"Patricia wanted to tell you," continued Bowen. "She has often talked
of you (Patricia felt sure Aunt Adelaide must hear her start of
surprise); but I wanted to wait until we could go to you together and
confess." Bowen smiled straight into his listener'