out on the table, with plenty of
apricot jam, and thick sensible bread-and-butter; no shavings.
Plum-cake; not plain--he detests caraway seeds, and two lumps of sugar
in his tea."

"I know. I've poured out tea for him since he was so high," cried
Miggles, waving her hand indefinitely in the air. "He had it with me
here two days before you came. It's not many young men who would care
to walk three miles to see an old woman, but I can't say he looks well.
Thin--worried! A man ought to be full of life at that age."

"Fretting for me, dear! He'll be all right this afternoon. You'll
see," announced Miss Jean confidently. She would have said the same of
any other young man of her acquaintance, nevertheless Vanna waited with
some anxiety for the events of the afternoon. Strive as she might, she
could not divest her mind of a feeling of responsibility towards Robert
Gloucester; of the conviction that Jean was his by right, and that
separation could end only in disaster.

At three o'clock that afternoon Piers Rendall walked up the garden path,
and Jean rushed out to meet him. Vanna, from her seat in the hall,
could hear the merry exchange of greetings.

"Halloa, Princess!"

"Halloa, Slave! How are you feeling?"

"Hugging my chains! This is a piece of luck, your coming down so soon.
What brought you away from the gay capital before the end of the
season?"

"The train, sir! People who ask personal questions must expect to be
snubbed. I ran away, but not alone. I've a friend with me--Miss
Strangeways. Come and be introduced."

They had entered the hall while Jean was speaking, and Vanna caught the
quick frown of annoyance on the man's face. He had a strong, well-knit
figure, and a thin, nervous face. His hair was dark, his features were
sharply aquiline, the whole effect was handsome and distinguished, but
not altogether agreeable. The dark blue eyes had a somewhat irritable
expression, and the features were subject to an occasional nervous
twitching. They twitched at sight of Vanna seated in the deep cane
chair facing the door, and his lips straightened themselves eloquently.
Vanna knew that he was mentally wishing her at Jericho, and seeing his
hoped-for _tete-a-tete_ turned into a dull trio. But the revelation was
but momentary, and nothing could have been more courteous than his
greeting.

"How do you do, Miss Strangeways? I have heard so constantly about you
from Jean that it is a double pleas