---"
She did not move, she kept her back to her niece.

"I want you to let me go away rather earlier than Monday," said May, and
speaking without looking towards her aunt. "I think I ought to go. The
fact is----"

Lady Dashwood turned round and came to her niece. "Do you think I am a
selfish woman?" she asked. There was a strange note of purpose in her
voice.

May shook her head and tried to smile. She did smile at last.

"Then, May," said Lady Dashwood, "I am going to be selfish now. I ask
you to stop till Monday, and help me to get through what I have to get
through, even if you stay at some sacrifice to yourself. Jim has
decided, so I must support him. That's clear."

May stared hard at the paper that was still in her hand, though she had
ceased to read it.

"As you wish, dear aunt," she said, and turned away.

"Thanks," said Lady Dashwood, in a low voice. "I shall be ready to start
in a few minutes," she went on, looking at her watch. Then she added
bitterly, "I'm not going to talk about it any more, but I must say one
thing. When you first shook hands with Jim he was already a pledged man.
He is capable of yearning for the moon, but he has decided to put up
with a penny bun;" here she laughed a hard painful laugh. "Nobody cares
but I," she added. "I have said all I can say to him, and I am now going
to be silent."

The door of the breakfast-room was slightly open and they could hear the
sound of steps outside in the hall, steps they both knew.

The Warden was in the hall. Lady Dashwood listened, and then called out
to him: "Jim!" Her voice now raised was a little husky, but quite calm.
They could hear the swish of a gown and the Warden was there, looking at
them. He was in his gown and hood, and held his cap in his hand. He was
at all times a notable figure, but the long robe added to the dignity of
his appearance. His face was very grave.

"May has not seen the cathedral," said Lady Dashwood quietly, as if she
had forgotten their interview in the library, "and we shall be close to
Christ Church. Our Sale, you know."

"Oh," said May, slowly and doubtfully, and not looking as if she were
really concerned in the matter.

"May ought to see the cathedral, Jim," said Lady Dashwood, "so, if you
do happen to be going to Christ Church, would you have time to take her
over it and make the proper learned observations on it, which I can't
do, to save my life?"

The Warden's eyes were now fixed on May. "You wo