her with a power that seemed almost
divine, within the two covers that bound his Sophocles. The mere look of
the Greek letters filled him with exultation. Here was all he wanted,
strength and simplicity, and the greatness of life, and beauty.

He forgot that Lucy did not know that dead language and could not share
his enthusiasm. He broke suddenly into a chorus from the _Antigone_; the
sonorous, lovely words issued from his lips, and Lucy, not
understanding, but feeling vaguely the beauty of the sounds, thought
that his voice had never been more fascinating. It gained now a peculiar
and entrancing softness. She had never dreamed that it was capable of
such tenderness.

At last they reached Court Leys and walked up the avenue that led to the
house. They saw Dick hurrying towards them. They waved their hands, but
he did not reply, and, when he approached, they saw that his face was
white and anxious.

'Thank God, you've come at last! I couldn't make out what had come to
you.'

'What's the matter?'

The barrister, all his flippancy gone, turned to Lucy.

'Bobbie Boulger has come down. He wants to see you. Please come at
once.'

Lucy looked at him quickly. Sick with fear, she followed him into the
drawing-room.

V

Mrs. Crowley and Robert Boulger were standing by the fire, and there was
a peculiar agitation about them. They were silent, but it seemed to Lucy
that they had been speaking of her. Mrs. Crowley impulsively seized her
hands and kissed her. Lucy's first thought was that something had
happened to her brother. Lady Kelsey's generous allowance had made it
possible for him to hunt, and the thought flashed through her that some
terrible accident had happened.

'Is anything the matter with George?' she asked, with a gasp of terror.

'No,' answered Boulger.

The colour came to Lucy's cheeks as she felt a sudden glow of relief.

'Thank God,' she murmured. 'I was so frightened.'

She gave him, now, a smile of welcome as she shook hands with him. It
could be nothing so very dreadful after all.

Lucy's uncle, Sir George Boulger, had been for many years senior partner
in the great firm of Boulger & Kelsey. After sitting in Parliament for
the quarter of a century and voting assiduously for his party, he had
been given a baronetcy on the celebration of Queen Victoria's second
Jubilee, and had finished a prosperous life by dying of apoplexy at the
opening of a park, which he was presenting to the nati