of a great rock in a thirsty land.'"

As he finished his speech Owen broke in impetuously:

"Don't say any more, Herrick. My God, what a fool I've been! To think
that all this was taking place beneath my eyes and I was too blind, too
self-absorbed to see."

"Well, everyone is blind, at times," said Herrick gently. "I'm not
trying to make you unhappy, Rose--the whole affair is no business of
mine, and you may well resent my interference."

"No, no," said Owen hastily. "God knows your interference is only too
justifiable. But----"

"Perhaps I am to blame, after all, for trying to engineer so delicate a
situation. The fact is, I felt a great pity for Mrs. Rose. She was only
a girl after all, and girlhood is a lively, careless, light-hearted
period. But although her soul appeared--then--to be unawakened, I knew
it was there all the time; and I confess I hoped that when she came into
full possession of it you would draw nearer to one another, and a better
understanding would ensue. But----"

He paused.

"Well? Your plan hasn't worked?"

"I don't know. The thing is, not so much _where_ has Mrs. Rose gone, but
_why_ did she go? Look here, Rose. I'm perfectly certain that her one
thought all through has been for your welfare; and though on the face of
it it seems peculiar that she should take this means of proving her love
for you, I'm quite convinced she is acting on your behalf in this odd
disappearance of hers."

"But how could I benefit by her disappearance?"

"I don't know. But I am quite sure----"

He broke off suddenly, and the next instant the two men started to their
feet as the hoot of a motor-horn sounded loudly outside the house.

"God, Herrick--here's Toni." Owen dashed out of the room followed by
Herrick, and the two reached the front door at the same moment.

Andrews, who had come running from the kitchen regions at the sound of
the horn, flung open the door, and disclosed the big car with its
flaring head-lamps, throbbing itself to a standstill at the foot of the
steps.

A young man jumped out--a man whom neither Rose nor Herrick had ever
seen before--and, rushing up the steps, looked wildly round him.

"Where is she?" he demanded loudly. "Where is she?"

"To whom do you allude?" asked Owen coldly, his fastidious soul revolted
by the spectacle which the young man presented. Dowson was hatless,
dishevelled. In his agony of mind at Toni's departure he had torn his
collar apart, feeling himself