will be here in an hour. Send the motor to the
station. Tell Groatley we will have tea in my sitting-room as soon as Sir
Deryck arrives. Send down word to the Lodge to Mrs. O'Mara, that I shall
want her up here this evening. Oh, and--by the way--mention at once at
the Lodge that there is no further news from abroad."

"Yes, m' lady," said the footman; and Myra Ingleby smiled at the
reflection, in the lad's voice and face, of her own immense relief. He
turned and hastened to the house; Peter, in a sudden access of misplaced
energy, barking furiously at his heels.

Lady Ingleby moved to the front of the terrace and stood beside one of
the stone lions, close to an empty vase, which in summer had been a
brilliant mass of scarlet geraniums. Her face was glad with expectation.

"Somebody to talk to, at last!" she said. "I had begun to think I should
have to brave dear mamma, and return to town. And Sir Deryck of all
people! He wires from Victoria, so I conclude he sees his patient _en
route_, or in the morning. How perfectly charming of him to give me a
whole evening. I wonder how many people would, if they knew of it, be
breaking the tenth commandment concerning me! ... Peter, you little
fiend! Come here! Why the footmen, and gardeners, and postmen, do not
kick out your few remaining teeth, passes me! You pretend to be too
unwell to eat your dinner, and then behave like a frantic hyena, because
poor innocent William brings me a telegram! I shall write and ask Michael
if I may have you hanged."

And, in high good humour, Lady Ingleby went into the house.

But, outside, the dead leaves turned slowly, and rustled on the grass;
while the soft "drip, drip" of autumn fell all around. The dying year was
almost dead; and nature waited for her pall of snow.

CHAPTER II

THE FORERUNNER

"What it is to have somebody to talk to, at last! And _you_, of all
people, dear Doctor! Though I still fail to understand how a patient, who
has brought you down to these parts, can wait for your visit until
to-morrow morning, thus giving a perfectly healthy person, such as
myself, the inestimable privilege of your company at tea, dinner, and
breakfast, with delightful _tete-a-tetes_ in between. All the world knows
your minutes are golden."

Thus Lady Ingleby, as she poured out the doctor's tea, and handed it to
him.

Deryck Brand placed the cup carefully on his corner of the folding
tea-table, helped himself to thin bread-and-butt