ce he was thoroughly sincere, and
voice and manner both testified to the change. "I was thinking of you,"
he added, looking at her with the dark eyes which could be so eloquent
upon occasions. "My daydreams have always been of you for the last
year!"

"Always?" echoed Margot sceptically. She selected a little cake from
the basket by her side, and nibbled it daintily with her small white
teeth. "Really? I am surprised to hear that. I fancied that you were
more catholic in your tastes. It is very flattering of you to include
me in your dreams, but I am not presumptuous enough to expect to occupy
the entire stage!"

"Presumptuous!" echoed Victor reproachfully. The vague uneasiness which
had possessed him since the beginning of the interview was deepened by
the unconcealed irony of her tone; and he realised suddenly that he must
speak plainly, since it was dangerous to play fast and loose any longer.
"What a word for you to use of yourself! It is I who am presumptuous
to dream of you as I do; but a man is not always master of his thoughts.
I think you must know what my feelings have been ever since we met. I
fell hopelessly in love with you at first sight--hopelessly in every
way, as it seemed at that time; but, all the same, my fate was sealed,
and the world held no other woman."

"Really?" queried Margot again, in the same voice of scepticism. "But,
then, how wonderfully you act, Mr Druce! I have seen you only
occasionally during the year, but I cannot say that you impressed me as
a man who had lost his interest in my sex! At one time I made sure--a
good many people made sure--that you had a very definite preference.
That was at the beginning of your stay at the Court, when Mr Farrell
seemed so devoted to his charming grand-niece. Do you remember the
afternoon when I came to call, and found you two sitting together upon
the terrace? What a charming picture you made! The old house makes an
ideal background for a _tete-a-tete_!"

Victor's eyes lit up with a flash of relief and triumph. Margot was
jealous--that was the reason of the change of manner which had puzzled
him all the afternoon. She was jealous of his attention to Ruth
Farrell, which she evidently looked upon as disloyal to herself. As he
could not deny the evidence of her own eyesight, the wisest plan was to
throw himself upon her generosity and forgiveness.

"Ah, you must not be hard on me! You were out of reach, and the time
and the op