ildhood; that there were already between them
knowledge and understanding of each other; that what she was doing, and
about to do, was but a further step in a series of events long ago
undertaken.

She thought it better to send by post rather than messenger, as the
latter did away with all privacy with regard to the act.

The letter was as follows:

'DEAR LEONARD,--Would it be convenient for you to meet me to-morrow,
Tuesday, at half-past twelve o'clock on the top of Caester Hill? I
want to speak about a matter that may have some interest to you, and
it will be more private there than in the house. Also it will be
cooler in the shade on the hilltop.--

Yours sincerely, STEPHEN NORMAN.'

Having posted the letter she went about the usual routine of her life at
Normanstand, and no occasion of suspicion or remark regarding her came to
her aunt.

In her room that night when she had sent away her maid, she sat down to
think, and all the misgivings of the day came back. One by one they were
conquered by one protective argument:

'I am free to do as I like. I am my own mistress; and I am doing nothing
that is wrong. Even if it is unconventional, what of that? God knows
there are enough conventions in the world that are wrong, hopelessly,
unalterably wrong. After all, who are the people who are most bound by
convention? Those who call themselves "smart!" If Convention is the god
of the smart set, then it is about time that honest people chose
another!'

* * * * *

Leonard received the letter at breakfast-time. He did not give it any
special attention, as he had other letters at the same time, some of
which were, if less pleasant, of more immediate importance. He had of
late been bombarded with dunning letters from tradesmen; for during his
University life, and ever since, he had run into debt. The moderate
allowance his father made him he had treated as cash for incidental
expenses, but everything else had been on credit. Indeed he was
beginning to get seriously alarmed about the future, for his father, who
had paid his debts once, and at a time when they were by comparison
inconsiderable, had said that he would not under any circumstances pay
others. He was not sorry, therefore, for an opportunity of getting away
for a few hours from home; from himself--from anxieties, possibilities.
The morning was a sweltering one, and he grumbled to himself as he set
out on his journey through the