econd time Rufus intervened. "I've
offended her. My mistake. I'll know better next time."

His deep voice was wholly devoid of humour. It was, in fact, devoid of
any species of emotion whatever. Yet, oddly enough, the anger died out
of Columbine's face as she heard it. She turned to the tablecloth-press
and began to unwind it in silence.

Mrs. Peck sniffed, and took up the soup-tureen.

As she waddled out of the kitchen Columbine withdrew the parlour
tablecloth and turned round.

"If you're really sorry," she said, "I'll forgive you."

Rufus regarded her for several seconds in silence, a slow smile dawning
in his eyes. "Thank you," he said finally.

"You are sorry then?" insisted Columbine.

He shook his great bull-head, the smile still in his eyes. "I wouldn't
have missed it for anything," he said.

There was no perceptible familiarity in the remark, and Columbine, after
brief consideration, decided to dismiss it without discussion. "Well,
let it be a lesson to you, and don't you ever do such a thing again!"
she said severely. "For I won't have you or any man lay hands on me--not
even in fun."

"All right," said Rufus.

He thrust his hands deep into his pockets as if to remove all cause of
offence, and was rewarded by a swift smile from Columbine. The storm had
blown away.

"I'll lay for four after all," she said, as she whisked out of the room.

Rufus was still seated in solitary state in the kitchen when Mrs. Peck
returned from the little coffee-room where she had been serving her
guest.

She peered round with caution ere she came close to him and spoke.

"It's as you thought. He don't want to go with either you or Adam."

Rufus's face remained unchanged; it was slightly bovine of expression as
he received the news. "We'll both get to bed in good time then," was his
comment.

Mrs. Peck's smooth brow drew in momentary exasperation. She had expected
something more dramatic than this.

"I'm glad you're so easily satisfied," she said. "But let me tell
you--I'm not!"

She paused to see if this piece of information would take more effect
than the first, but again Rufus proved a disappointment. Neither by word
nor look did he express any sympathy.

Mrs. Peck continued, it being contrary to her nature to leave anything
to the imagination of her hearers. "If he'd been content to go with one
of you, I wouldn't have given it another thought. Goodness knows, I'm
not of a suspicious turn. But the moment I