was now gaily administered to herself.

Falloden argued with energy that a man who has never been to a public
school has got to be "disciplined" at the university; that Otto
Radowitz, being an artist, was specially in need of discipline; that no
harm had been done him, or would be done him. But he must be made to
understand that certain liberties and impertinences would not be
tolerated by the older men.

"He never means them!" cried Constance. "He doesn't understand. He is a
foreigner."

"No! He is an Englishman here--and must behave as such. Don't spoil him,
Lady Connie!"

He looked at her imperiously--half smiling, half frowning.

"Remember!--he is my friend!"

"I do remember," he said drily. "I am not likely to forget." Constance
flushed, and proudly dropped the subject. He saw that he had wounded
her, but he quietly accepted it. There was something in the little
incident that made her more aware of his overbearing character
than ever.

"If I married him," she thought, "I should be his slave!"

Tea had been daintily spread for them under a birch-tree near the
keeper's lodge. The keeper's wife served them with smiles and curtsies,
and then discreetly disappeared. Falloden waited on Constance as a
squire on his princess; and all round them lay the green encircling
rampart of the wood. In the man's every action, there was the homage of
one who only keeps silence because the woman he loves imposes it. But
Constance again felt that recurrent fear creeping over her. She had been
a fool--a fool!

He escorted her to the gate of the wood where Joseph was waiting.

"And now for our next merry meeting?" he said, as he got down to tighten
her stirrup which had stretched a little.

Constance hurriedly said she could not promise--there were so many
engagements.

Falloden did not press her. But he held her hand when she gave it him.

"Are you angry with me?" he said, in a low voice, while his eyes mocked
a little.

"No--only disappointed!"

"Isn't that unkind? Haven't we had a golden time?" His tone smote her a
little.

"It was heavenly," she said, "till--"

"Till I behaved like a brute?"

She laughed excitedly, and waved farewell.

Falloden, smiling, watched her go, standing beside his horse--a
Siegfried parting from Brunhilde.

When she and the groom had disappeared, he mounted and rode off towards
another exit.

"I must be off to-morrow!" he said to himself with decision--"or my
schools will go to