time.
But he hoped the other might not notice this side of it.

"That's beyond me," he answered. "How did she know I was here? For I
need hardly tell you we don't correspond every mail exactly. I can only
explain it on the score that more people know Tom Fool than T.F. knows;
that there are, I suppose, people in this neighbourhood who hail from
the old country, or have relations there, and the postage upon gossip is
no higher than that upon business."

"You will not mind my saying that it is a pity we did not know you were
a married man."

"`Had been,' you should have said, not `were.' Not but what legally I
am still tied up fast enough--chained and bound--which has this
advantage, that it keeps a man from all temptation to make a fool of
himself a second time in his life. Still, it doesn't count otherwise."

"No, I suppose not," said the other, significantly. "Perhaps it doesn't
keep a man from making a fool of other people, though."

"Now, my dear Selwood, what the very deuce are you driving at? For
Heaven's sake let us be straight and open with each other."

"Well, I mean this. It's a most unpleasant thing to have to say to any
man. But, you see, Miss Avory is our guest, and a relation as well.
You must know as well as I do that your attentions to her were very--
er--marked."

One of those jolly laughs which has so genuine a ring, and which Maurice
knew so well when to bring in, greeted this speech.

"Look here, Selwood," he said, "I don't want to hurt your feelings, but
the fact is you don't understand women in the least. You are quite on
the wrong tack, believe me. Miss Avory doesn't care the ghost of a
straw for me, or my `attentions.' You must remember that we both knew--
er--the same people in England. There, you must fill in the outline. I
am not at liberty to say more. But there won't be much time to put the
matter to the test, for I've got to leave you again to-morrow."

To Christopher Selwood's honourable mind no doubt suggested itself as to
the genuineness of this explanation. There was a frank
straightforwardness about it which, with a man of his character, was
bound to tell. He felt intensely relieved. But to this feeling there
succeeded one of humiliation. Had he not made an inordinate fuss over
the concern at the start? Had he not raised a veritable storm in a
teapot, and set everybody by the ears for weeks? Had he not in his
anxiety to unburden himself abdicated his own m