s now possessor of a great
fortune, might perchance forget yesterday's turmoil, and be willing to
renew their tender relations; he felt such a thing to be by no means
impossible. Meanwhile, ignorance would keep him in a most perplexing
and embarrassing position. The Amyses, who knew nothing of the rupture
of his ostensible engagement, would be surprised if he did not call
upon Miss Bride, yet it behooved him, for the present, to hold aloof
from both the girls, not to compromise his future chances with either
of them. The dark possibility that neither one nor the other would come
to his relief, he resolutely kept out of mind; that would be sheer
ruin, and a certain buoyancy of heart assured him that he had no such
catastrophe to fear. Prudence only was required; perhaps in less than a
week all his anxieties would be over, for once and all.

He decided to call, this afternoon, upon Lady Amys. The interview would
direct his future behaviour.

It was the day of Robb's funeral, and he had meant to absent himself
from Hollingford. He remained in his private sitting-room at the
Saracen's Head, wrote many letters, and tried to read. At four o'clock
he went out to Rivenoak, only to learn that Lady Amys could receive no
one. He left a card. After all, perhaps this was the simplest and best
way out of his difficulty.

As he turned away from the door, another cab drove up, and from it
alighted Mr. Kerchever. Dyce had no difficulty in recognising Lady
Ogram's solicitor, but discretion kept his head averted, and Mr.
Kerchever, though observing him, did not speak.

By the post next morning, he received a formal announcement of Lady
Ogram's death, with an invitation to attend her funeral. So far, so
good. He was now decidedly light-hearted. Both Constance and May, he
felt sure, would appreciate his delicacy in holding aloof, in seeking
no sort of communication with them. Prudence! Reserve! The decisive day
approached.

Meanwhile, having need of sable garb, he had consulted Breakspeare as
to the tailor it behooved him to patronise. Unfortunately the only good
tailor at Hollingford was a Conservative, who prided himself on having
clad the late M. P. for many years. Lashmar of necessity applied to an
inferior artist, but in this man, who was summoned to wait upon him at
the hotel, he found a zealous politician, whose enthusiasm more than
compensated for sartorial defects.

"I have already been canvassing for you, sir," declared the