t the pony on purpose, and nobody
likes being disappointed when he has done a thing so much as Sir
Harry." Ayala, delighted as she was, did not make her secret known.
She was fluttered, and apparently uneasy,--so that her friend did
not know what to make of it, or which way to take it. Ayala's secret
was to herself a secret still to be maintained with holy reticence.
It might still be possible that Jonathan Stubbs should never say
another word to her of his love. If he did,--why then all the world
might know. Then there would be no secret. Then she could sit and
discuss her love, and his love, all night long with Lady Albury,
if Lady Albury would listen to her. In the meantime the secret
must be a secret. To confess her love, and then to have her love
disappointed,--that would be death to her!

And thus it went on through the whole week, Lady Albury not quite
knowing what to make of it. Once she did say a word, thinking that
she would thus extract the truth, not as yet understanding how potent
Ayala could be to keep her secret. "That man has, at any rate, been
very true to you," she said. Ayala frowned, and shook her head,
and would not say a word upon the subject. "If she did not mean to
take him now, surely she would have gone," Lady Albury said to her
husband.

"She is a pretty little girl enough," said Sir Harry, "but I doubt
whether she is worth all the trouble."

"Of course she is not. What pretty little girl ever was? But as long
as he thinks her worth it the trouble has to be taken."

"Of course she'll accept him?"

"I am not at all so sure of it. She has been made to believe that you
wanted her to stay, and therefore she has stayed. She is quite master
enough of herself to ride out hunting with him again and then to
refuse him." And so Lady Albury doubted up to the Sunday, and all
through the Sunday,--up to the very moment when the last preparations
were to be made for the man's arrival.

The train reached the Stalham Road Station at 7 P.M., and the
distance was five miles. On Sundays they usually dined at Stalham at
7.30. The hour fixed was to be 8 on this occasion,--and even with
this there would be some bustling. The house was now nearly empty,
there being no visitors there except Mr. and Mrs. Gosling and Ayala.
Lady Albury gave many thoughts to the manner of the man's reception,
and determined at last that Jonathan should have an opportunity of
saying a word to Ayala immediately on his arrival if he