none other
had. And now there seemed to be a bond between them that drew them
closer.

Three years ago Johnny had bought a bicycle for Ellice. She had been
going daily then to Miss Richmond's school at Great Langbourne, three
miles away, and he had bought the bicycle that she might ride to school
and back again. Since she had left school the bicycle had remained
untouched and rusted in one of the outhouses, but now Ellice had got the
machine out and cleaned it and put new tyres on it.

Deep down in her mind was a plan, as yet not wholly formed, a desperate
venture that one day she might embark on, and the old bicycle was part
of that plan, for she would need it to carry out the plan. She had not
decided yet, not even if she would ever carry it out, but she might.

Day after day saw her on the road; more often than not her way lay
towards Starden village. She would ride the six and a half miles to
Starden, wait there for a time, and then ride back. She never called at
Starden Hall. Helen knew nothing of these trips.

Connie watched the girl with misgivings and doubts, and Ellice knew that
the elder girl was watching her.

"Connie, I want to speak to you," she said quietly one morning.

"Yes, darling?"

Ellice slipped her small brown hand into Connie's.

"I--I know that you are worrying, dear, that you are anxious--and for
me."

Connie nodded, tears came into her eyes.

"I want you to understand, Connie, that I--I promise you I will do
nothing--nothing, I will never do anything unless I come to you first
and tell you. I promise you that I will do nothing--nothing that I
should not do, nothing mad and foolish and wrong, unless I come to you
first and tell you just what I am going to do."

"Thank you, dear, for telling me this. It lifts a great weight and a
great anxiety from my heart. Thank you, dear--oh, Ellice darling, I
thought once that it would be a fine thing for him, but now--now I could
wish it otherwise!"

Another moment and the girl was in her arms, clasping her passionately,
and kissing her passionately and gratefully.

Then suddenly Ellice broke away, and a few minutes later was riding hard
down the road to Starden.

It was always to Starden that she rode. Always she passed the great
gates of Starden Hall, yet never even glanced at them. She rode into the
little village, propped her bicycle against the railings that surrounded
the old stocks that stood on the village green, and there sat on a