nly near relative. Besides, you have had such a lonely
time, and it is quite time that you saw a little of the other side of
life. Sir Michael is a particular friend of mine, and I promised him
that I would talk to you about this. I am most anxious to hear that you
get on well together. You can be amiable if you like, you know, and you
can be very much the other thing."

"I will try," I assured her, "not to be the other thing." She smiled.

"And tell me all about Braster."

"There is not much to tell," I answered. "I have been hard at work all
the time, and I have scarcely seen a soul."

"The woman--Mrs. Smith-Lessing?"

"She left Braster before you. I have not seen her since the evening of
the day I saw her last."

She appeared relieved.

"May I ask you a question?" I asked. She nodded. "About Colonel Ray.
Has the Duke forgiven him?"

"On the contrary, he is more bitter than ever," Lady Angela answered.
"I have seen him once or twice only. He does not come here." "I saw in
the paper," I said, "that your engage--"

"It is not true," she interrupted. "Everything is as it was. But it is
shockingly indefinite, of course. I scarcely know whether I am to
consider myself an engaged person or not. Colonel Ray offered to
release me, but we agreed to wait for a little time."

"Lady Angela!"

She looked at me with a soft flush upon her cheeks. But my words were
never spoken. The Duke entered the room, brilliant in sash and orders.

"Good evening, Ducaine," he said, looking at me with slightly lifted
eyebrows.

"Good evening, your Grace," I answered in some embarrassment.

"I sent for Mr. Ducaine," Lady Angela remarked, stooping that her maid,
who had followed the Duke, might arrange her cloak. "I wanted to hear
all about Braster, and I had a message for him from Sir Michael
Trogoldy."

The Duke made no remark.

"I shall require you, Ducaine, at ten o'clock to-morrow morning in my
study," he said. "Afterwards we go over to the War Office. You have
brought all the papers with you?--If you are quite ready, Angela."

The Duke, without saying a word, had managed to make me feel that he
considered my presence in the drawing-room with Lady Angela superfluous,
but her smile and farewell were quite sufficient recompense for me.
Still, I knew that this living together under the same roof was to be no
unmixed blessing for me. I shut myself in the dainty little
sitting-room which I was told was mine, and turned the key