ought that she has done so. And very
generous, very noble, it is of her."

"What a strange thing!" the girl exclaimed, as ingenuously as she had
ever spoken in her life.

"Isn't it! I can explain in a word or two. Lady Ogram wished us to
marry; it was a favourite project of hers. She spoke to me about
it--putting me in a very difficult position, for I felt sure that Miss
Bride had no such regard for me as your aunt supposed. I postponed,
delayed as much as possible, and the result was that Lady Ogram began
to take my behaviour ill. The worst of it was, her annoyance had a bad
effect on her health. I think you know that Lady Ogram cannot bear
contradiction."

"I know that she doesn't like it," said May, her chin rising a little.

"You, of course, are favoured. You have exceptional influence. But I
can assure you that it would have been a very unpleasant thing to have
to tell Lady Ogram either that I couldn't take the step she wished, or
that Miss Bride rejected me."

"I can believe that," said May indulgently.

"When I saw that she was making herself ill about it, I took the
resolve to speak frankly to Miss Bride. The result was--our pretended
engagement."

"Was it your suggestion?" inquired the listener.

"Yes, it came from me," Dyce answered, with half real, half affected,
embarrassment. "Of course I felt it to be monstrous impudence, but, as
some excuse for me, you must remember that Miss Bride and I have known
each other for many years, that we were friends almost in childhood.
Perhaps I was rather a coward. Perhaps I ought to have told your aunt
the truth, and taken the consequences. But Miss Bride, no less than I,
felt afraid of them."

"What consequences?"

"We really feared that, in Lady Ogram's state of health--"

He broke off significantly. May dropped her eyes. The train roared
through a station.

"But," said May at length, "I understand that you are to be married in
October."

"That is Lady Ogram's wish. Of course it's horribly embarrassing. I
needn't say that when our engagement is announced as broken off, I
shall manage so that all the fault appears to be on my side. But I am
hoping--that Lady Ogram may somehow be brought to change her mind. And
I even dare to hope that--you will help us to that end."

"I? How could I, possibly?"

"Indeed, I hardly know. But the situation is so awkward, and you are
the only person who has really great influence with Lady Ogram--"

There was silence ami