l the major and Harry reentered this
stagnation. They were brisk and buoyant. Harry, especially, had the air
of a man who sees stimulating business before him. Immediately all
talked at once.

"Now that we've got you here, you must all stay to luncheon," Mrs.
Purdie determined.

It looked as if they were about to accept her invitation unanimously,
but Harry demurred. He had to be at Montgomery Street and Jackson by one
o'clock. "I hoped," he added, glancing at Flora, "that some one was to
drive me--part of the way, at least."

Flora, with an unruly sense of disappointment, yet opened her lips for
the courteous answer. But Clara was quicker. She rose.

"Yes," she said, "I'll drive you back with pleasure."

Harry's glimmer of annoyance was comic.

"I have to be at the house for luncheon," Clara explained to her hostess
as she buttoned her glove, "but there is no reason why Flora shouldn't
stay."

"Oh, I should love to," Flora murmured, not knowing whether she was more
embarrassed or pleased at this high-handed dispensation which placed her
where she wanted to be.

But the way Clara had leaped at her opportunity! Flora looked curiously
at Harry.

He seemed uneasy at being pounced upon, but that might be merely because
he was balked of a tete-a-tete with herself. For while Clara went on to
the gate with their hostess he lingered a moment with Flora.

"May I see you to-night?"

"All you have to do is to come."

She gave him an oblique, upward glance, and had a pleasant sense of
power in seeing his face relax and smile. She had a dance for that
evening; but she thrust it aside without regret. For suppose Harry
should have something to tell her about the Chatworth ring? She wondered
if Clara would get it out of him first on the way home.

The four left on the veranda watched the two driving away with a sudden
clearing of the social atmosphere. In vain Flora told herself it was
only the relief she always felt in getting free of Clara. For in the
return of the major's elderly blandishments, in Kerr's kindlier mood, as
well as in her own lightened spirits, she had the proofs that, with them
all, some tension had relaxed. It seemed to her as if those two,
departing, were bearing away between them the very mystery of the Crew
Idol.

IV

FLOWERS BY THE WAY

Flora liked this funny little dining-room with walls as frail as
box-boards, low-ceiled and flooded with sun. It recalled surroundings
she had know