eceive him, and Foster pulled out his watch. As there was no
town for some distance and Daly would not expect to be asked to stay,
he no doubt intended to return to the station across the moor, where he
could catch the last train. Allowing for the long drive, he could not
stop long at the Garth; but Foster must give Featherstone time enough.
The latter had a rather difficult part, because he must allow Daly to
state his terms, and not reject them until the last moment. He was too
honest and too proud to dissemble well, but he was not a fool and there
was much at stake.

At length, Foster stole quietly down the stairs, and smiled as he
remarked that the cloth on the small table had been pulled aside. This
had been done cautiously, but a fold that overhung the edge was not in
quite its former position. Then he picked up the bag and went out,
making noise enough to be heard in the library as he shut the hall
door. When he went down the steps he saw the lights of the car that
had brought Daly glimmer on the wet gravel of the drive. The back of
the car was next him, for it had been turned round ready to start.
Then Featherstone's car rolled up quietly, and Foster was getting in
when he stopped and felt his heart beat as a slender figure appeared on
the terrace. He turned, with his foot on the step, and waited until
Alice came up.

"I couldn't let you go without a last word of thanks," she said. "It
is splendid! We can't forget."

"I believe I'm going to have an amusing trip," Foster replied. "Then,
you see, the Garth is a remarkably nice place to come back to, and
there's the pleasure of looking forward to my return. But I'm
unselfish enough to hope I won't have that satisfaction all to myself."

Alice smiled, but there was something very friendly in her look and her
voice was unusually soft.

"You can always be sure of your welcome and we will miss you when you
are away. I very sincerely wish you good luck."

Foster was seldom theatrical, but felt the occasion justified his doing
something unusual. John, having already grasped the wheel, had his
back to them, and Foster took the girl's hand, which rested on the
rail, and kissed it. She made a little abrupt movement, and he thought
he saw a tinge of color in her face, but she did not look angry and he
felt a strange exultant thrill.

"Make as much noise as you can," he said to John.

The car backed across the rattling gravel, and the girl's figure fad