," burst out Kitty. "He's going straight off to
Africa--to-morrow! Celia, of course, will be buried out in India--her
uncle has cabled him that he'll arrange everything. And Peter has had
the chance of a returned berth in a boat that sails to-morrow, so he
proposes to get his kit together and start at once."

"I should have thought he'd have started at once--in this direction,"
remarked Barry drily.

"He would have done, I expect, only he's so bitter over Nan's attempt
to run away with Maryon Rooke that he's determined to bury himself in
the wilds. If he only knew what she'd gone through before she did such
a thing, he'd understand and forgive her. But that's just like a man!
When the woman he cares for acts in a way that's entirely inconsistent
with all he knows of her, he never thinks of trying to work backwards
to find out the _cause_. The effect's enough for him! Oh!"--with a
sigh--"I do think Peter and Nan are most difficult people to manage.
If it were only that--just a lovers' squabble--one might fix things up.
But now, just when every obstacle in the world is removed and they
could be happily married, Nan must needs decide that it's her duty to
marry Roger!"

"Her duty?"

"Yes." And Kitty plunged forthwith into a detailed account of all that
had happened.

"Good old Nan! She's a well-plucked 'un," was Barry's comment when she
had finished.

"Of course it's splendid of her," said Kitty. "Nan was always an
idealist in her notions--but in practice it would just mean purgatory.
And I won't _let_ her smash up the whole of her own life, and Peter's
for an ideal!"

"How do you propose to prevent it, m'dear?"

"I propose that _you_ should prevent it."

"I? How?"

Kitty laid an urgent hand on his arm.

"You must go over to Trenby and see Roger."

"See Roger? My dear girl, he won't be able to see visitors for days
yet."

"Oh, yes, he will," replied Kitty. "Isobel Carson rang up just now to
ask if Nan would come over. It appears that, barring the injury to his
back, he escaped without a scratch. He didn't even _know_ he was hurt
till he found he couldn't use his legs. Of course, he'll be in bed.
Isobel says he seems almost his usual self, except that he won't let
anyone sympathise with him over his injury. He's just savage about it."

Barry made no answer. He reflected that it was quite in keeping with
all be knew of the man for him to bear in silence the shock of knowing
that hencefor