hing mysterious. A dogcart had been sent for me. I jumped into it
with my bag, and was out of sight before you had gathered together your
possessions."

"Ah, yes; we had boxes in the van." Mollie tilted her head to its
characteristic angle and smiled at him with wide grey eyes. "And you
watched our toilette across the carriage, little guessing it was for
your own benefit. We knew that we were to meet other visitors here, but
had no idea who they were or how many there might be. We imagined
walking into the midst of a big house-party; hence the preparations. It
was only natural we should want to look nice."

"Perfectly! I am glad I was fortunate enough to see the result, since I
suppose no one else--"

Mollie shook her head tragically.

"Not a soul! Mrs Wolff met us and sent us straight up to our room. If
it had not been for you, the new gloves would have been wasted on the
desert air; but now we can console ourselves that our trouble was of
some use, after all, since at least half the party had the benefit.
Were you also despatched straight upstairs?"

"I was. Afterwards, Druce and I had tea in the billiard-room, and went
on to join you in the library. It has been a somewhat trying
opportunity; I sympathised with your conversational efforts before
dinner."

Mollie's brows went up at this, and she made a sceptical little grimace.

"That is not my idea of sympathy! You stood by and watched me flounder
without making a effort to help. It's not at all pleasant to be snubbed
before a roomful of strangers. You might easily have remarked that it
was a fine day, or that the train was punctual. Anything is better than
a ghastly silence."

"But, you see, I had had my innings before you arrived. As a matter of
fact I had introduced those very subjects, and added some original
remarks on the beauty of the scenery. I fared no better than you, so my
fellow-feeling made me sympathise with you, though I had no spirit to
try again."

Mollie laughed under her breath, the influence of her surroundings
instinctively subduing the usual merry trill. This Mr Melland was an
unexpectedly pleasant companion, now that his former gloom and
irritability of manner had disappeared. It was as if a dreaded prospect
had been removed, and he was luxuriating in recovered freedom. Mollie
wondered what the change of circumstances could be; time, no doubt,
would show; and, when they had reached a greater degree of intimacy, sh