e come for him. But the days passed, and Hugh did not go. Lady
Linden required her fat horses for her own purposes. Marjorie's own
little ancient car had developed a serious internal complaint that had
put it definitely out of commission, so there was no means of getting to
Hurst Dormer unless he walked, or wired to his man to bring over his own
car, but Hugh did not trouble to do that. They did not want him there,
everything would be all right, so Joan's letter, with others, was
propped up on the mantelpiece in his study and dusted carefully every
morning; and Joan watched the post in vain, and with a growing sense of
anger and humiliation in her breast.

But of this Hugh knew nothing. He was watching Marjorie and Tom. Somehow
his sacrifice did not seem to have brought about the happy results that
he had hoped for.

So Hugh, though he had little understanding of women, felt yet that
things were not as they should be and as Marjorie of course could not
possibly be to blame, it must be Tom Arundel, and to Tom he addressed
himself forcibly.

Tom listened resentfully. "Look here, Alston, I don't know what the lay
is," he said. "I don't know what's the matter. I am not conscious of
having offended her. If I have, I am sorry--why goo-law, I worship the
ground the little thing treads on!"

And Hugh, looking Tom straight in the eyes, knew that he was speaking
the truth.

"Good!" he said. "I'm glad to hear it, and she's worth it!"

"And--and it hurts me, by George it does, Alston," Tom said, "the way
she cuts up rough with me. And now you go for me bald-headed, as if I'd
behaved like a pig to her. Why goo-law, man, I'd lie down and let her
jump on me. I'd go and drown myself if it would cause her any--any
amusement."

There was a distinct suggestion of tears in the boy's eyes, and Hugh
turned hastily away.

"Marjorie dear," he was saying a while later, "what's wrong? Tell me all
about it. Tell your old friend Hugh, and see if he can put things
right."

"There is nothing--nothing wrong, Hugh!" Marjorie gasped. "Nothing!
Nothing in the world!" And she belied her statement by suddenly sobbing
and hiding her face against his shoulder.

"There, there--there!" he said, feeling as awkward as a man must feel
when a woman cries to him. He patted her shoulder with the uncomfortable
feeling that he was behaving like an idiot.

"It--it is nothing!" she gasped. "Hugh, it is really nothing!"

"Tom's a good lad, one of the bes