rimace. "I don't say that I do like him. I mean to say
that I want to show you--and myself--that I do--a little bit--regret my
silence, and will try my best to remedy the mischief caused by it. A
frank confession which ought to please you."

"It does please me. I am sure of it. But you must not go--you must not
leave your work----"

"Oh, my work can be easily done by somebody else. That is what this
telegram is about, by-the-bye. I must send an answer, and it depends
upon your decision."

"Can I not consult any one? My uncle? Mr. Colquhoun?"

"You know Mr. Colquhoun's opinion. My father will think exactly as you
and I do. No, it depends entirely upon whether you think I shall do your
errand well, Elizabeth, and whether you will give me the chance of
showing that I am not so ungenerous and so base as you say you think me.
Tell me to fetch Brian Luttrell home again, and I will go."

And, with tears in her eyes, Elizabeth said, "Go."

CHAPTER XXXV.

DINO'S HOME-COMING.

"It is to be understood," said Percival, two or three days later, with
an affectation of great precision, "that I surrender none of my rights
by going on this wild-goose chase. I shall come back in a few months'
time to claim my bride."

Elizabeth smiled rather sadly. "Very well," she said.

"In fact," Percival went on expansively, "I shall expect the wedding to
be arranged for the day after my arrival, whenever that takes place. So
get your white gown and lace veil ready, and we will have Brian Luttrell
as best man, and Dino Vasari to give you away."

It was rather cruel jesting, thought Elizabeth; but then Percival was in
the habit, when he was in a good humour, of turning his deepest feelings
into jest. The submission with which she listened to him, roused him
after a time to a perception that his words were somewhat painful to
her; and he relapsed into a silence which he broke by saying in an
entirely different sort of voice:--

"Have you no message for Brian Luttrell, Elizabeth?"

"You know all that I want to say."

"But is there nothing else? No special message of remembrance and
friendship?"

"Tell him," said Elizabeth, flushing and then paling again, "that I
shall not be happy until he comes back and takes what is his own."

"Well, I can't say anything much stronger," said Percival, drily. "I
will remember."

They talked no more about themselves, until the day on which he was to
start, and then, when he was about to tak