ips. Then his glance met Charles Verity's, held it in silent
interchange of friendship needing no words to declare its quality or
depth; and he turned away abruptly, making for the inside of the waiting
omnibus--cavernous in the semi-darkness--distributing largesse to all and
sundry as he went.

Damaris was aware of her father's arm passed through hers, holding her
against his side with a steadying pressure, as they went together across
the hall on their way to the first floor sitting-room. Aware of poor,
pretty, coughing little Mrs. Titherage's raised eyebrows and enquiring
stare, as they passed her with her coffee, cigarette, and fat, florid
stock-broker husband--who, by the way, had the grace to keep his eyes
glued to the patience cards, ranged upon the small table before him,
until father and daughter were a good half-way up the flight of stairs.
Later, when outwardly mistress of herself, the inclination to tears
successfully conquered and her normal half-playful gravity regained, she
went to her bedroom, Hordle had brought her this beguiling packet.

Inside the silver paper wrappings she found a red leather jewel case, and
a note in Carteret's singularly definite hand, character rather than
script, the severe yet decorative quality of Arabic about it.

"To the dear witch," it read, "in memory of our incomparable Henrietta's
dance, and of the midnight walk which followed it, and of our hours of
pleasant sightseeing at Marseilles."

No signature followed, only the date.

Now, sitting up in bed, while the day came into full and joyous being,
Nature's face duly decked and painted by the greatly reconciling sun,
Damaris read the exquisitely written note again. The writing in itself
moved her with a certain home-sickness for the East, which it seemed in
some sort to embody and from which to hail. Then meanings she detected,
behind the apparently light-hearted words, filled her with gratitude.
They reminded her gently of duties accepted, promises made. They gathered
in Faircloth, too, by implication; thus assuring her of sympathy and
approval where she needed them most.

She opened the case and, taking out the string of pearls it contained,
turned them about and about, examining, counting, admiring their lustre
and ethereal loveliness. They were graduated from the size of a
hemp-seed, so she illustrated it, on either side the diamond clasp, to
that of a marrow-fat pea. Not all of them--and this charmed her fancy as