peculiar voice,
a defiant, obstinate voice which she knew well: "I do wish that Mrs.
Crofton would die--I do hate her so!"

Janet Tosswill looked straight into her little son's face. She felt that
she had perhaps made a mistake in treating Timmy as if he were grown up.
"My dear," she said very gravely, "remember the Bible says--'Thou shalt
not kill.'"

"Of course I know _that_,"--he spoke with a good deal of scorn. "Of
course I want her to die a _natural_ death."

CHAPTER XVI

"No, you mustn't come in; I'm tired. Besides, I've got someone coming to
tea."

The ready lie slipped easily off Enid Crofton's tongue, as Jack Tosswill
looked down into her face with a strained, pleading look. They were
standing in the deserted road close to the outside door set in the
lichen-covered wall of The Trellis House. It was already getting dusk,
for they had been for a long walk.

"I shall never, never forget to-day!" He gripped her hand hard as he
spoke, and she looked up and down the empty road a little apprehensively.
But no one was coming or going, and the group of little old cottages
opposite The Trellis House held as yet no twinkling lights.

"I shall never forget it, either," she said softly. "But I really _must_
go in now--you know we are meeting this evening?"

"May I come and fetch you?" he asked.

"No, I'd rather you didn't do that--if you don't mind," and then, seeing
his look of deep disappointment, she added, "Perhaps you will walk back
with me after dinner?"

"Of course I will, but I'm afraid Radmore or one of the girls will want
to come too."

As he gazed down into her face there was a look of infinite longing in
his eyes, and even she felt a certain touch of genuine emotion sweep over
her. It is so very, very delicious to be loved.

"Good-bye, darling," he whispered huskily; and, before she had time to
stop him, he had taken her in his arms and kissed her, passionately,
lingeringly. Then, with no other word, he released her and went off
quickly down the road.

* * * * *

After Enid Crofton had shut the heavy door in the wall behind her, she
did not go straight along the path which led to her front door. Instead,
she turned in the gathering darkness to the left, and started walking
round the garden which in daylight looked so different, now that Jack
Tosswill had put in so many hard mornings' work at it.

She felt more surprised and moved by what had happened thi