him.

"Here, stop this! Your husband has abandoned you and gone after another
woman."

She gave a gasp, but made no answer.

She pushed him away from her slowly, and after a moment rose and walked
from the room as though dazed.

It was so unexpected that Wickersham made no attempt to stop her.

A moment later Lois entered the room. She walked straight up to him.
Wickersham tried to greet her lightly, but she remained grave.

"Mr. Wickersham, I do not think you--ought to come here--as often as you
do."

"And, pray, why not?" he demanded.

Her brown eyes looked straight into his and held them steadily.

"Because people talk about it."

"I cannot help people talking. You know what they are," said Wickersham,
amused.

"You can prevent giving them occasion to talk. You are too good a friend
of Cousin Louise to cause her unhappiness." The honesty of her words was
undoubted. It spoke in every tone of her voice and glance of her eyes.
"She is most unhappy."

Wickersham conceived a new idea. How lovely she was in her soft blue
dress!

"Very well, I will do what you say There are few things I would not do
for you." He stepped closer to her and gazed in her eyes. "Sit down. I
want to talk to you."

"Thank you; I must go now."

Wickersham tried to detain her, but she backed away, her hands down and
held a little back.

"Good-by."

"Miss Huntington--Lois--" he said; "one moment."

But she opened the door and passed out.

Wickersham walked down the street in a sort of maze.

CHAPTER XXIV

KEITH TRIES HIS FORTUNES IN ANOTHER LAND

In fact, as usual, Mrs. Nailor's statement to Lois had some foundation,
though very little. Mrs. Lancaster had gone abroad, and Keith had
followed her.

Keith, on his arrival in England, found Rhodes somewhat changed, at
least in person. Years of high living and ease had rounded him, and he
had lost something of his old spirit. At times an expression of
weariness or discontent came into his eyes.

He was as cordial as ever to Keith, and when Keith unfolded his plans he
entered into them with earnestness.

"You have come at a good time," he said. "They are beginning to think
that America is all a bonanza."

After talking over the matter, Rhodes invited Keith down to the country.

"We have taken an old place in Warwickshire for the hunting. An old
friend of yours is down there for a few days,"--his eyes twinkled,--"and
we have some good fellows there. Think you will li