om her through the
gathering gloom to seek the lower region and its presiding goddess.

Leaving all to Kit means that when dinner is over, about half-past
eight, the two Misses Beresford may be seen crossing the boundary that
divides Moyne from Coole with anxious haste and a hot cake.

This last is hugged to Monica's breast, and is plainly causing her the
greatest inconvenience. It is a _huge_ cake, and has to be carried
parcelwise, being much too big for the smaller basket they had, and
much too small for the bigger. But Monica--though it is heavy beyond
description (though, I hope, light in every other way for the sake of
Reilly's reputation) and still appallingly _hot_--trudges along with it
bravely, resisting all Kit's entreaties to be allowed to share the
burden.

* * * * *

"Who are those coming towards us through the elms down there?" says Mr.
Kelly, suddenly.

He and Brian Desmond are sitting upon a garden seat outside the
dining-room windows, enjoying an after dinner cigar.

"There?" says Brian, following his glance. "Eh?--What?" There is a
second pause, then, rising to his feet with much precipitancy, he flings
his cigar to the winds, and, before Owen has time to recover from his
astonishment at these proceedings, is well out of sight. A turn in the
lawn has hidden Brian and the advancing figures from his view.

"Monica!" says Desmond, as he reaches her; "what has brought you here at
this hour? My darling! how pale and tired you look!"

"She has been much perturbed," says Kit, solemnly. She has been
meditating this remark for some time.

"We heard all about last night," murmurs Monica, with a sweet troubled
face, out of which her eyes look into his, full of a tender pathos, like
violets drowned. "And you were not at the river this afternoon, and so I
came here to find you, and----" Her voice trembles ominously.

"I was obliged to be with the sergeant and the other men all day," says
Desmond, hurriedly. "Do not blame me, my _love_. When I went to the
river towards evening it was then of course too late. I meant to go up
to Moyne when the moon was up----But what have you got there, dearest?"
pointing to the enormous thing she is still holding tightly to her
breast.

She colors and hesitates; seeing which, the faithful Kit comes once more
to the rescue.

"It's a cake!" she says, with a nod of her sleek head. "We knew of you
being boycotted, and we thought you would be