t
Estwich, interested to hear that the small house-party had
disintegrated, surprised to learn that the countess had gone to town.

"Are you entirely alone in the house?" he asked; and his eyes seemed to
protrude a little more than usual.

"Entirely," she said carelessly; "except for Binns and his wife and the
servants."

"Why didn't you 'phone a fellow to stop over to lunch?" he asked,
suddenly assuming a jovial manner which their acquaintance did not
warrant. "We country folk don't stand on ceremony you know."

"I did not know it," she said quietly.

His bold gaze rested on her again; again the uncertain laugh followed:

"If you'd ask me to dine with you to-night I'd take it as a charming
concession to our native informality. What do you say, Miss West?"

She forced a smile, making a sign of negation with her head, but he
began to press her until his importunities and his short, abrupt
laughter embarrassed her.

"I couldn't ask anybody without permission from my hostess," she said,
striving to maintain the light, careless tone which his changing manner
toward her made more difficult for her.

"Oh, come, Miss West!" he said in a loud humorous voice; "don't pass me
the prunes and prisms but be a good little sport and let a fellow come
over to see you! You never did give me half a chance to know you, but
you're hands across the table with that Ogilvy artist and Jose
Querida--"

"I've known them rather longer than I have you, Mr. Cardemon."

"That's my handicap! I'm not squealing. All I want is to start in the
race--"

"What race?" she asked coolly, turning on him a level gaze that, in
spite of her, she could not maintain under the stare with which he
returned it. And again the slight uneasiness crept over her and
involuntarily she looked around her at the woods.

"How far is it now?" she inquired.

"Are you tired?"

"No. But I'm anxious to get back. Could you tell me how near to some
road we are?"

He halted and looked around; she watched him anxiously as he tossed his
bridle over his horse's neck and walked forward into a little glade
where the late rays of the sun struck ruddy and warm on the dry grass.

"That's singular," he said as she went forward into the open where he
stood; "I don't seem to remember this place."

"But you know about where we are, don't you?" she asked, resolutely
suppressing the growing uneasiness and anxiety.

"Well--I am not perfectly certain." He kept his eyes off her