be faced, and, if it would relieve you, I will
send for Alfreton, who has some taste in that direction, to fix that
tie for you. You have been five minutes over it, and it evidently does
not please you. It's the first time I've ever seen you worry about
your dress."

Winston turned, and a curious smile crept into his face as he laid a
lean hand that shook a little on the toilet table.

"I also think it's the first time these fingers wouldn't do what I
wanted them. You can deduce what you please from that," he said.

Dane only nodded, and when they went down together laid a kindly grasp
upon his comrade's arm as he led him into the great dining-room. Every
man at Silverdale was apparently there, as were most of the women, and
Winston stood still a moment, very erect with shoulders square, because
the posture enabled him to conceal the tremor that ran through him when
he saw the smiling faces turned upon him. Then he moved slowly down
the room towards Maud Barrington, and felt her hand rest for a second
between his fingers, which he feared were too responsive. After that,
everybody seemed to speak to him, and he was glad when he found himself
sitting next to Miss Barrington at the head of the long table, with her
niece opposite him.

He could not remember what he or the others talked about during the
meal, but he had a vague notion that there was now and then a silence
of attention when he answered a question, and that the little lady's
face grew momentarily grave when, as the voices sank a trifle, he
turned to her.

"I would have paid my respects to Colonel Barrington, but Dane did not
consider it advisable," he said.

"No," said Miss Barrington. "He has talked a good deal about you
during the last two days, but he is sleeping now, and we did not care
to disturb him. I am afraid you will find a great change in him when
you see him."

Winston asked no more questions on that topic until later in the
evening, when he found a place apart from the rest by Miss Barrington's
side. He fancied this would not have happened without her connivance,
and she seemed graver than usual when he stood by her chair.

"I don't wish to pain you, but I surmise that Colonel Barrington is
scarcely well enough to be consulted about anything of importance just
now," he said.

Miss Barrington made a little gesture of assent. "We usually pay him
the compliment, but I am almost afraid he will never make a decision of
moment aga