ned me I am not to manage his
estates like a Socialist."

"No--but like a human being!" cried Lydia, indignantly--"that's all we
want. Come and talk to Lord Tatham!"

"Parley with my employer's opponent!"

"Under a flag of truce," laughed Lydia, "and this shall be the neutral
ground. You shall meet here--and mamma and I will hold the lists."

"You think--under those circumstances--we should get through much
business?" His dark eyes, full of gaiety, searched hers. She flushed a
little.

"Ah, well, you should have the chance anyway."

Faversham rose unwillingly to go. Lydia bent forward, listening.

"At last--here comes my mother."

For outside in the little hall there was suddenly much chatter and
swishing of skirts. Some one came laughing to the drawing-room and threw
it open. Mrs. Penfold, flushed and excited, stood in the doorway.

"My dear, did you _ever_ know such kind people!"

Her arms were laden with flowers, and with parcels of different sorts.
Susy came behind, carrying two great pots of Japanese lilies.

"You said you'd like to see those old drawings of Keswick--by I forget
whom. Lady Tatham has sent you the whole set--they had them--you may
keep them as long as you like. And Lord Tatham has sent flowers. Just
look at those roses!" Mrs. Penfold put down the basket heaped with them
at Lydia's feet, while Susy--demurely--did the same with the lilies.
"And there is a fascinating parcel of books for Susy--_all_ the new
reviews! ... _Oh_! Mr. Faversham--I declare--why, I never saw you!"

Voluble excuses and apologies followed. Meanwhile Lydia, with a bright
colour, stood bewildered, the flowers all about her, and the drawings in
her hands. Faversham escaped as soon as he could. As he approached Lydia
to say good-bye, she looked up, put the drawings aside, and hurriedly
came with him to the door.

"_Accept_!" she said. "Be sure you accept!"

He had a last vision of her standing in the dark hall, and of her soft,
encouraging look. As he drove away, two facts stood out in consciousness:
first, that he was falling fast and deep in love; next, that--by the look
of things--he had a rival, with whom, in the opinion of all practical
people, it would be mere folly for him to think of competing.

BOOK II

X

While Faversham was driving back to Threlfall, his mind possessed by a
tumult of projects and images--which was a painful tumult, because
his physical strength was not yet equal to copi