sky
overhead, then down once more upon the detestable missive, and said:--

"Damn!"

John Ames was not addicted to the use of strong language. Now, however,
he reckoned the occasion justified it.

"With all possible dispatch." That would mean taking his departure that
night--that very night. And here he was, ready and waiting to do the
usual escort duty, this time for a long day out on the bicycle. If he
were to start that night it would mean exactly halving that long day.
With a savage closing of the hand he crushed the official letter into a
blue ball, and once more ejaculated--

"Damn!"

"Sssh!"

Thereat he started. Nidia Commerell was standing in the doorway right
beside him, drawing on a pair of suede gloves, her blue eyes dancing
with mirth. She was clad in a bicycle skirt and light blouse, and wore
a plain white sailor hat.

"Sssh! _You_ using naughty swear words? I _am_ surprised at you!"

The smile which rippled brightly from the mobile lips showed, however,
that the surprise, if any, was not of a derogatory nature. John Ames
laughed ruefully.

"I'm sorry. But really it was under great provocation. I've received
marching orders."

"No? Not really? Oh, how disgusting!"

The utterance was quick. His eyes were full upon her face. How would
she receive the communication? Was that really a flash of
consternation, of regret, that swept over it?

"When must you go?" she continued, still, it seemed to him, speaking
rather quickly.

"I ought to start by to-night's train"--then, breaking off--"Where is
Mrs Bateman? Is she ready?"

"We shall have to go without her. She can't come--says she's getting
headachy."

"Oh, I'm so sorry!"

Nidia had to turn away her head to avoid a splutter outright. Never had
she heard words intended to be sympathetic uttered in tones of more
jubilant relief. To herself she said: "You are a sad tarradiddler, John
Ames." To him she said, "Yes; it's a pity, isn't it?" He, for his
part, was thinking that this time the official order need not be
interpreted too literally. It had plainly intimated that a state of
things had transpired which necessitated the presence of every official
at his post, but this time the state of things could dispense with his
adjusting hand for twenty-four hours longer. "With all possible
dispatch." Well, to start that night under the circumstances would not
be possible, under others it would. Throughout the whole day Nidia