ent, while he was riding beside his future wife--his future
wife!--filled him with bitterness. His face must have paled, or Maude
must have seen him start, for she looked at him and then turned her
head and looked in the direction in which his eyes were fixed. She
recognised Ida instantly; the colour rushed to her face; her hand
tightened on her rein spasmodically; for a moment she felt inclined to
turn aside, to ride away, escape from the girl she hated and loathed.
And then she was moved by another impulse; the demon of jealousy
whispered: "This is the moment of your triumph; why not enjoy it to the
full; why not let her feel the bitterness of defeat? There is your
rival! Let her see with her own eyes your triumph and your happiness."
The temptation was too great for her, and she yielded to it.

"Who is that riding up the hill?" she said, controlling her voice
admirably. "It is Miss Heron, is it not?"

"Yes, it is," he said, as impassively as he could.

Her lips curled scornfully at his assumption of indifference. "I have
seen her and met her," she said, "but I have not been introduced to
her. Let us overtake her, and you can introduce me. I should like to
know her."

He looked straight before him, his face grave and set.

"Is it worth while?" he said in a low voice. "Some other time--"

"Why not now?" she asked. "We can catch her quite easily."

The moment had come for him to tell her.

"Not now," he said, huskily. "I have something to tell you, Maude;
something you ought to know before--before you make Miss Heron's
acquaintance."

She turned to him with a low laugh.

"Do you think I don't know?" she said, between her teeth. "I have know
all along! I read the letter you wrote to her--I got it--stole it, if
you like--from Pottinger. I have known all along--do you not think I
have been very patient, very discreet? Even now I bear no malice. I can
forget the past, forget and forgive. Why should I not, seeing that I am
assured of your love and good faith? You will see how completely I
forget, how little importance I attach to your fancy for the girl; a
fancy which I am sure you have quite outgrown. Oh, I can trust you! We
will join Miss Heron by all means."

His face was dark and heavy.

"Do not, Maude, until you've heard all," he began, but with a scornful
laugh that yet had something doubting and desperate in it, she sent
Adonis on. He sprang forward nervously and shivering under a stroke
from her whip,