h threatened to overcome her.

"Let us wait a minute," said Falconer gently. "You are nervous,
overtired. We will wait here."

But Nell had got her breath again by this time.

"No, no!" she said, almost vehemently. "Let us go. I know the way----"

"Dick will be waiting for us at the door of the east wing," he said. "If
you can find that----"

"I know," she said quickly. "That is it on our left. But--but I do not
want to see any one."

"All the guests are leaving by the front of the house; we are not likely
to meet any one."

He was somewhat surprised at her agitation, and her evident desire to
leave the place unseen; for Nell was usually so perfectly self-possessed
and free from nervousness or gaucherie.

She drew him to the side park under the shadow of the wing, in which few
of the windows were lighted, and as they waited she gradually recovered
herself.

"There is Dick," said Falconer presently. "He is waiting for us by that
window."

Nell looked in the direction he indicated.

"Is that Dick?" she said, peering at the figure. "It is so dark I can
scarcely see. I don't think it is Dick. If it is, why is he looking in
at the window?"

"He may be talking to some one inside," said Falconer. "I'll call him.
Dick!"

As he called, the figure half turned, then swung round away from them,
and with lowered head moved quickly away from the window, and passed
into the darkness of the shrubbery.

"How strange!" said Falconer; and he felt puzzled. Why should Dick start
at the sound of his name, and make off into the darkness?

Falconer bit his lip. It was just possible that Dick, who was young, and
also particularly good-looking, was carrying on a flirtation with some
one in the house. If so, the explanation of his sudden flight was
natural enough.

"Why did he run away? Where has he gone?" said Nell. "You were wrong. It
was not Dick."

"Very likely," assented Falconer. "It was so dark----Yes, I was wrong,
for there he stands by the door," he broke off, as, coming round the
corner, they saw Dick, who was engaged in lighting his pipe.

"Hallo! here you are, at last," he said, cheerfully. "Couldn't tear
yourselves away from the festive scene? By George! if you'd spent the
night in an engine room, you'd be glad enough to cut it."

"Poor Dick!" said Nell.

"Oh, I haven't had such a bad time," he said. "They brought me a ripping
supper, and a special dish with the chef's compliments. I don't know
where the c