inly that he had been drifting into
loving her from the first moment he had seen her that Good Friday
morning, the foundations having been laid years before, on the day in
the tree.

He felt rather uncomfortable about his old master, who he knew would not
approve of any secret union with Halcyone. Not that Cheiron would reck
much of conventionalities, or care in the least if it were a marriage at
a registry-office or not, but he would certainly resent any aspect of
the case which would seem to put a slight upon his much-loved protegee
or place her in a false position.

He would tell him nothing about it until it was an accomplished fact and
Halcyone was his wife--then they would let him into the secret.

All the details of what she would have to say to her aunts in her letter
of farewell on leaving them would have to be thought out, too, so that
no pursuit or inopportune prying into the truth would be the
consequence.

Of any possibility of her stepfather's ultimate interference he did not
think, not knowing that she had even any further connection with him. To
satisfy in some way the ancient aunts was all that appeared a necessity.
And that was difficult enough. He had certainly undertaken no easy task,
but he did not regret his decision. The first and only strong passion he
had ever known was mastering him.

But there was yet one more unpleasant aspect to face--that was the
situation regarding Mrs. Cricklander. He had assuredly not committed
himself or even acted very unfairly to her. She had been playing a game
as he had been. He did not flatter himself that she really loved
him--now that he knew what love meant--and her ambition could be
gratified elsewhere; but there remained the fact that he was engaged to
stay with her for Whitsuntide, and whether to do so, and plainly show
her that he had meant nothing and only intended to be a friend, or
whether to throw the visit over, and go to London, returning just to
fetch Halcyone about Wednesday, he could not quite decide.

Which would be the best thing to do? It worried him--but not for long,
because indecision was not, as a rule, one of his characteristics, and
he soon made up his mind to the former course.

He would go to Wendover on Saturday, as was arranged, take pains to
disabuse his hostess's mind of any illusion upon the subject of his
intentions, and, having run over to Bristol this afternoon to give
notice to the registrar and procure the license, he wo