had promised to show her some sketches."

"But he didn't find her. He said so at tea-time--when she came out."

Jim was silent. "Perhaps that was a blind," said Dick. "How long was it
before he came back and said he couldn't find her?"

"About half an hour, I should think. Not so much."

"He _must_ have found her. But, good heavens! he can't have persuaded
her to run away with him in half an hour! He had never been alone with
her before."

"No."

"And he didn't see her alone afterwards."

Jim's face suddenly went dark. "He--he--went out after we went up to
bed," he said.

"What?"

"He asked me to leave the door unlocked. He said he might not sleep, and
if he didn't he should go out."

The two men looked at one another. "That's a nice thing to hear of your
sister," said Dick bitterly.

"It's a nice thing to hear of a man you've treated as a friend," said
Jim.

"How long have you known the fellow?"

"Oh, I told you. I met him when I was travelling, and asked him to look
me up. I haven't seen him since until he wrote and said he wanted to
come for a quiet Sunday."

"Why did he want to come? I'll tell you what it is, Jim. She must have
met him in London, and you were the blind. Yes, that's it. She's been
different since she came back. I've noticed it. We've all noticed it."

"I don't believe they met before," said Jim slowly.

"Why not?"

"I don't believe they did. Dick, do you think they can be married
already? Is there time to stop it?"

"Yes, there's time. I've thought it out. We'll go up by the seven
o'clock train. Where does the fellow live?"

Jim thought a moment. "I don't know. He wrote from the Royal Societies
Club."

"Well, we'll find him. I'm not going to talk about it any more now. I'm
too angry. Cicely! She ought to be whipped. If it _is_ too late, she
shall never come to Kencote again, if I have any say in the matter, and
I don't think my say will be needed. Let's go to bed. We shall have
plenty of time to talk in the train."

"I'll go and get hold of Grove," said Jim. "He must get a room ready,
and see that we get to the station in the morning," and he went out of
the room.

Dick walked up and down, and then poured himself out whisky-and-soda
from a table standing ready. He lit a cigarette and threw the match
violently into the fireplace. When Jim returned he said, "I've managed
to keep it pretty dark so far. The governor would have blurted
everything out--everything that he kne