down
the street to the sweetstuff shop.

"But the fact remains," said Hugh to himself, "there is no sense in
deliberately riding for a fall. If I asked her to meet me, she would
either refuse or ignore the request, so I shall not ask. Yet, all the
same, she and I will meet sooner or later, and when we meet, it will be
by accident, not by--" He paused. Outside the cycle-shop stood a small
two-seater car that had a familiar look to Hugh. As he glanced at the
car its owner came out of the shop with a can of petrol in his hand.

He saw Hugh, looked him in the eyes, and nodded in friendly fashion.

"A nice day!" he said.

"Very!"

"I have to thank you for helping my--" Johnny paused; he had almost said
sister, but of course Ellice was not his sister--"my little friend
yesterday, about the bike I mean."

"That's nothing! Excuse interference on my part, but if you pour that
petrol into the radiator, you will probably develop trouble."

Johnny Everard laughed. "I am new to it, and I am always
doing odd things like that. Of course, that's for water. Lawson over at
Little Langbourne generally sees to things for me."

Hugh nodded. He looked at the man standing but a few feet from him, the
man who was to gain that which Hugh coveted and desired most in the
world, looked at him and yet felt no dislike, no great enmity, no
furious hate.

"It was very good of you to help the kiddie with her bike," said Johnny,
as he splashed the petrol into the tank. "If you find yourself at any
time over at Little Langbourne, we'd be glad to see you. My name's
Everard, my place is Buddesby."

"Thanks! It is very good of you, and I shan't forget!" He nodded,
smiled, and walked on, then glanced back. He could see Johnny fumbling
with the car, and he smiled.

"That's my hated rival, and he seems a decent sort of chap."

An hour later he was back at Mrs. Bonner's cottage.

"The post's come in since you went, Mr. Alston," said Mrs. Bonner, "and
there's a letter for you."

It was a bulky envelope from Hurst Dormer. There was a note from Mrs.
Morrisey, to say that everything was going as it should go, and she
enclosed all the letters that had come by post.

And the first letter that Hugh opened was one on pink paper, delicately
scented. How well he remembered that scent! How it brought back to him a
certain pretty little face, and a pair of sweet blue eyes.

"Dear little maid," he said. He read the letter, and stared at it in
astonishm