s Octon spoke to her, she
answered through me. And why?"

"The tandem whip, I suppose--hereditary feud and that sort of thing."

"It's not Miss Octon's fault; it's a shame to make her responsible."

"There doesn't seem to be any other reason."

He pulled his trim little fair mustache; I rather think that he blushed
a little. "I don't like it, and I've a good mind to tell Eunice so. Miss
Octon is Miss Driver's guest, just as we are, and on that ground anyhow
entitled to civility."

I believe that he carried out his possibly chivalrous but certainly
unwise purpose, and no doubt he got a snubbing for his pains. At any
rate he had a short interview with Eunice just before we dined--and,
afterwards, spoke to her no more that evening. While the fireworks
blazed and the rockets roared, he placed himself between Jenny and
Margaret. I managed to get near Margaret on the other side, just for the
love of seeing the beauty of the girl's face as she watched the show
with an intensity of excitement and delight. She clapped her hands, she
laughed, she almost crowed in exultation. Once or twice she caught Lacey
by the arm, as you see a child do with its father when the pleasure is
really too much to hold all by itself. Jenny seemed to heed her very
little--and to heed Amyas Lacey even less; she looked decidedly
ruminative, gazing with a grave face at the spectacle, her clean-cut
pallid profile standing out like a coin against the blaze of light.
Amyas glanced at her now and again, but he was not proof against the
living, exuberant, ebullient joy that bubbled and gurgled on his other
side. Presently he abandoned himself altogether to the charm of it, fell
under its sway, and became partaker of its mood. Now they were two
children together, their shouts of laughter, of applause, of simulated
alarm, filling the air. Grim looked the Aspenick ladies, very scornful
that elegant gentleman Mr. Dormer! Margaret had never a thought for
them; if Lacey had, he cast it away.

Thus they were when the show ended--but its ending did not check their
talk and their laughter. Jenny rose, refreshments were spread within; to
call Lacey's attention to her, she touched his shoulder. He turned round
suddenly--with a start.

"Oh, I say, I beg your pardon! I--I didn't know you were still there,
Miss Driver."

"There's something to eat indoors," said Jenny. "If you want it!"

"Oh, no, Jenny, dear, it's much nicer here. I'm sure Lord Lacey isn't
hungry