I don't think he will object," she said, almost inaudibly.

Dick stared at her.

"Look here, young party, what is up between you two? Is there anything
wrong? Oh, dash it! don't look as if I'd said there was a ghost behind
you! What is it?"

"Drake--Drake and I are not going to be married," she said, trying to
smile, but breaking down in the attempt. "We--we have agreed--to--to
part!"

Dick uttered a low whistle, and gazed at her, aghast.

"All off!" he said. "Phew! Why--when--how?"

She began to collect some of her small belongings--a tiny workbasket,
some books, and such like, and answered as she moved to and fro,
studiously keeping her face turned away from him:

"I can't tell you; don't ask me, Dick. Don't--don't ask him. It--it is
all right. It is all for the best, as mamma would say; and--and----" She
went behind him and laid her hand on his shoulder, her favorite attitude
when she was serious or pleading. "And mind, Dick, it is to make no
difference between you--and Drake. It--is--yes, it is all my fault. I--I
was foolish and----"

She could bear no more; and, with a quick movement of her hand to her
throat, hastened from the room.

Dick looked after her ruefully for a moment or two, then his face
cleared, and he winked to himself.

"What an ass I am to be upset by a lovers' quarrel. Of course, it's all
in the game. The other business would pall after a time if there wasn't
a little of this kind of thing chucked in for a change. I wonder whether
that jolly girl, Miss Angel, will come down to the lunch? Now, there's a
girl no chap could have even a lovers' quarrel with. Poor old Drake! Bet
I shall find 'em billing and cooing as usual when I come back," And Dick
grinned as he marched off with his gun.

CHAPTER XIX.

Drake rode over to the Grange for breakfast, according to his promise.
He was glad of the ride, glad of an hour or two in which he could think
over the dramatic events of the preceding night, and, so to speak, clear
his brain of the unpleasant glamour which Lady Luce's words and behavior
had produced.

Not for a moment did he swerve from his allegiance to Nell; never for a
moment did the splendor of Luce's beauty, the trick of her soft voice,
her passionate caress, eclipse the starlike purity of Nell's nature and
personality. If it were possible, he loved Nell better and more
devotedly, longed for her more ardently, since his meeting with Luce,
than he had done before.

All th