e about
this world. To the "other world" Lady Dashwood felt secretly inimical;
that "unknown" lurking in the future, would probably, not so long hence,
engulf her husband, leaving her, alas! still on this side--with no heart
left for making any more plans.

If she had been alone with the Warden he would not have mentioned the
"future life," nor would he have spoken of the "High Gods." He knew her
mind too well. Was he probing the mind of May Dashwood? Either he was
deliberately questioning her, or there was something in her presence
that drew from him his inmost thoughts. Lady Dashwood felt a pang of
indignation at herself for "being in the way" when to be "out of the
way" at such a moment was absolutely necessary. She must leave these two
people alone together--now--at this propitious moment. What should she
do? She began casting about wildly in her brain for a plan of escape
that would not be too obvious in its intention. The Warden had never
been with May alone for five minutes. To-morrow would be a blank
day--there was Chartcote first and then when they returned the Warden
would be still away and very probably would not be visible that evening.

She could see May's raised face looking very expressive--full of
thoughts. Lady Dashwood rose from her chair confident that inspired
words would come to her lips--and they came!

"My dear Jim," she heard herself saying, "your mentioning the High Gods
has made me remember that I left about some letters that ought to be
answered. Horribly careless of me--I must go and find them. I'll only be
away a moment. So sorry to interrupt when you are just getting
interesting!" And still murmuring Lady Dashwood made her escape.

She had done the best she could under the circumstances, and she smiled
broadly as she went through the corridor.

"That for Belinda and Co.!" she exclaimed half aloud, and she snapped
her fingers.

And what was going to happen after Belinda and Co. were defeated,
banished for ever from the Lodgings? What was going to happen to the
Warden? He had been successfully rescued from one danger--but what about
the future? Was he going to fall in love with May Dashwood?

"It sounded to me uncommonly like a metaphysical wooing of May," said
Lady Dashwood to herself. "_That_ I must leave in the hands of
Providence;" and she went up to her room smiling. There she found
Louise.

"Madame is gay," said the Frenchwoman, catching sight of the entering
smile. "Gay in th