mp-lit streets. It had turned a corner and was out of
sight by the time the parlourmaid, hearing the sound of the street door
closing, had hurried upstairs only to find an empty studio. Nor could
she give Rooke, on his return, the slightest information as to what had
become of his guests--the lady, or the two gentlemen who, she told him,
had called shortly afterwards, apparently expecting to find Miss
Davenant there.

Meanwhile the taxi had carried them swiftly to Peter's house, where he
hurried Nan and Sandy up to his own sanctum, instructing the
taxi-driver to wait below.

"We've just time for a few sandwiches before we start," he said. He
rang the bell for his servant and gave his orders in quick,
authoritative tones.

Nan shook her head. She felt as though a single mouthful would choke
her. But Peter insisted with a quiet determination she found herself
unable to withstand, and gradually the food and wine brought back a
little colour into her wan face, though her eyes were still full of a
dumb anguish and every now and then her mouth quivered piteously.

She felt dazed and bewildered, as though she were moving in a dream.
Was it really true that she had run away from the man she was to marry
and was being brought back by the man who loved her? The whole affair
appeared topsy-turvy and absurd. She supposed she ought to feel
ashamed and overwhelmed, but somehow the only thing that seemed to her
to matter was that she had failed of that high ideal of love which
Peter had expected of her. She knew instinctively, despite the grave
kindness of his manner, that she had hurt him immeasurably.

"And what are you going to do with me now?" she asked at last, with an
odd expression in her face. She felt curiously indifferent about her
immediate future.

Mallory glanced up at her from the time-table he was studying.

"There's a ten o'clock express which stops at Exeter. We're taking you
home by that."

"There's no connection on to St. Wennys," remarked Nan impassively.

It didn't seem to her a matter of great importance. She merely stated
it as a fact.

"No. But Sandy left his car in Exeter and we shall motor from there."

"We can all three squash in," added Sandy.

"We won't be able to keep Roger ignorant of the fact I've been away,"
pursued Nan.

"He will know nothing about it," said Peter quietly.

She looked dubious.

"I think," she observed slowly, "that you may find it more difficult
than yo