nity of his absence to write him a decisive letter. She will
hand you over this letter and ask you to give it to the Warden on
his return home. This letter is to tell him that she releases him
from his promise of marriage. And to avoid a very serious
embarrassment I have invited her to come to Potten End to-morrow
morning and stay with me till I have heard from Lady Belinda. I am
writing myself to Lady Belinda, giving her full details. I am sure
she will be convinced of the wisdom of Gwendolen so suddenly
breaking off her engagement. I will send the car for Gwendolen
to-morrow at ten o'clock, and meanwhile will you spare her feelings
and make no reference to what has taken place? The poor child is
feeling very sore and very much ashamed of all the fuss, but feels
that she is doing the right thing--at last.

"Yours ever,

"MARIAN POTTEN."

Lady Dashwood folded up the letter and put it back into its envelope.
She avoided looking at May just now.

"Marian must feel very strongly on the subject to offer to send her own
car," she said. "I have never known her do such a thing before," and
Lady Dashwood smiled and looked at the fire. "So the whole thing is
over! But how did it all come about? What happened? I've been thinking
over every possible accident that could have happened to make Gwen
change her mind in this sudden way, and I am still in the dark," she
went on. "Do you think that Gwendolen had any misgivings about her
engagement when she left this house after lunch, May? I'm sure she
hadn't." Here Lady Dashwood paused and looked towards May but not at
her. "It all happened at Potten End! I'm certain of it," she added.

May, having at last completely drawn off both her gloves, was folding
and unfolding them with unsteady hands.

"It's a mystery," said May.

"But I don't care what happened!" said Lady Dashwood, solemnly; "I don't
really want to know. It is over! I can't rest, I can't read, I can't
think coherently. I can only be thankful--thankful beyond words."

May walked slowly in the direction of the door. "Yes, all your troubles
are over," she said.

"Do you remember, May," went on Lady Dashwood, "how you and I stood
together just here, under the portrait, when you arrived on Monday?
Well, all that torment is over. All that happened between then and now
has been wi