t I should go away to
the sea for a little. So that all things seem to point to my coming to
Monkshaven. Does your primitive little village boast a hotel? Or, if
not, can you engage some decent rooms for me?"

The remainder of the letter dealt with the practical details concerning
the proposed visit, and Sara, in a little flurry of joyous excitement,
had hurried off to the Cliff Hotel and booked the best suite of rooms it
contained for Elisabeth.

On her way home she encountered Garth in the High Street, and forthwith
proceeded to acquaint him with her news.

"I've just been fixing up rooms at the 'Cliff' for a friend of mine who
is coming down here," she said, as he turned and fell into step beside
her. "A woman friend," she added hastily, seeing his brows knit darkly.

"So much the better! But I could have done without the importation
of any friends of yours--male or female--just now. They're entirely
superfluous"--smiling.

"Well, I'm glad Mrs. Durward is coming, because--"

"_Who_ did you say?" broke in Garth, pausing in his stride.

"Mrs. Durward--Tim's mother, you know," she explained. She had confided
to him the history of her brief engagement to Tim.

Trent resumed his walk, but more slowly; the buoyancy seemed suddenly
gone out of his step.

"Don't you think," he said, speaking in curiously measured tones, "that,
in the circumstances, it will be a little awkward Mrs. Durward's coming
here just now?"

Sara disclaimed the idea, pointing out that it was the very completeness
of Elisabeth's conception of friendship which was bringing her to
Monkshaven.

"When does she come?" asked Trent.

"On Thursday. I'm very anxious for you to meet her, Garth. She is so
thoroughly charming. I think it is splendid of her not to let my broken
engagement with Tim make any difference between us. Most mothers would
have borne a grudge for that!"

"And you think Mrs. Durward has overlooked it?"--with a curious smile.

Sara enthusiastically assured him that this was the case.

"I wonder!" he said meditatively. "It would be very unlike Elis--unlike
any woman"--he corrected himself hastily--"to give up a fixed idea so
easily."

"Well"--Sara laughed gaily. "Nowadays you can't _compel_ a person to
marry the man she doesn't want--nor prevent her from marrying the man
she does."

"I don't know. A determined woman can do a good deal."

"But Elisabeth isn't a bit the determined type of female you're
evidently imagining,