economy to get ahead of yourself and live in the day after
to-morrow. To-day's enough--more than enough for you, I'm afraid, when
you've had a large contingent of the Whitney people to luncheon. Do go
and rest, mother. Uncle William is disposed of. I've started him out
for a tramp with Julius, so you need not have him on your mind."

But neither in Richard's words nor in his manner did Lady Calmady find
the fulness of assurance she craved.

"Thanks dearest," she said. "That is very thoughtful of you. I will see
Helen and find out----"

"Oh! don't trouble about her either," Richard put in. Again he studied
the jewel-rimmed dial of the little clock. "I found she wanted to go to
Newlands to bid Mrs. Cathcart good-bye. It seems Miss St. Quentin is
back there for a day or two. So I promised to drive her over as soon as
we were quit of the Fallowfeild party."

"It is late for so long a drive."

Richard looked up quickly and his face wore that expression of
challenge once again.

"I know it is--and so I am afraid we ought to start at once. I expect
the carriage round immediately." Then repenting:--"You'll take care of
yourself won't you, mother, and rest?"

"Oh yes! I will take care of myself," Katherine said. "Indeed, I appear
to be the only person I have left to take care of, thanks to your
forethought. All good go with you, Dick."

It followed--perhaps unreasonably enough--that Richard, some five
minutes later, drove round the angle of the house and drew the
mail-phaeton up at the foot of the gray, griffin-guarded flight of
steps--whereon Madame de Vallorbes, wrapped in furs, the cavalier hat
and its trailing plumes shadowing the upper part of her face and her
bright hair, awaited his coming--in a rather defiant humour. His cousin
was troubled, worried, and she met with scant sympathy. This aroused
all his chivalry. Whatever she wished for, that he could give her, she
should very certainly have. Of after consequences to himself he was
contemptuous. The course of action which had shown as wisdom a couple
of hours ago, showed now as selfishness and pusillanimity. If she
wanted him, he was there joyfully to do her bidding, at whatever cost
to himself in subsequent unrest of mind seemed but a small thing. If
heartache and insidious provocations of the flesh came later, let them
come. He was strong enough to bear the one and crush out the other, he
hoped. It would give him something to do--he told himself, a little
bit