to do with his actions
at present and not with her own thoughts. For this reason she determined
to watch him--to be in his company throughout the time of probation.

Thus it happened that before Giles could arrange his plans the next
day--one of which entailed a neighborly visit to Franklin--Olga made her
appearance at his house, and expressed a desire to see his picture
gallery, of which she had heard much. Her mother, she said, was coming
over that afternoon to look at the house, which, as she had been told,
was a model of what an English country-house should be.

Giles growled at this speech, being clever enough to see through the
artifices of Mademoiselle Olga.

"The house is as old as the Tudors," he expostulated; "your mother
should look at a more modern one."

"Oh, no," replied Olga sweetly. "I am sure she will be delighted with
this one; it is so picturesque."

"I am afraid that I promised to pay a visit this afternoon."

"Ah, you must put it off, Mr. Ware. When two ladies come to see you, you
really cannot leave them alone."

"If the next day will do----"

"I don't think it will. My mother and I leave the next day. She is due
in town to a reception at the Austrian Embassy."

Ware made other excuses, but Olga would listen to none of them. She
stopped all the morning and looked at the pictures, but she never
referred to their conversation of the previous night. There was a tacit
understanding between them that it should remain in abeyance until the
time given for the reply of Giles was ended. Still, Ware could not
forget that burning kiss, and was awkward in consequence.

Not so Olga. She was quite cool and self-possessed, and although alone
with him for close on two hours, did not show the least confusion.
Giles, much disgusted, called her in his own mind "unmaidenly." But she
was not that, for she behaved very discreetly. She was simply a woman
deeply in love who was bent on gaining her ends. Considering the depth
of her passion, she restrained herself very creditably when with the man
she loved. Giles now saw how it was that she had defied her family and
had taken her own way in life.

"I won't stop to luncheon," she said, when he asked her; "but I and my
mother will come over at three o'clock." It was now close on two. "I am
sure we shall have a pleasant afternoon."

Giles tried to smile, and succeeded very well, considering what his
feelings were at the moment. If he could only have behaved br