explanation would not be
forthcoming, as to which questions were undesirable. The perception
of this did not demand much subtlety, and, in accordance with the
instincts of their craft, Rainham's reticence was respected.

"It was curious, when you come to think of it," Copal said
reflectively one evening after his return from a late autumnal
ramble in Finistere, and while the situation was still new to him,
"very curious. Rainham and Lightmark were inseparable; so were
Rainham and Oswyn. And all the time Lightmark and Oswyn were about
as friendly as the toad and the harrow. Sounds like Euclid, doesn't
it? Things equal to the same thing, and quite unequal to one
another."

"Yes," assented McAllister, thoughtfully stroking his reddish beard.
"And there was a time--not so very long ago, either--when Lightmark
and Oswyn were on pretty good terms too!"

"Ah, well; most people quarrel with old Oswyn sooner or later. But
it certainly does look a little as if--as if Lightmark had done
something and the other two had found it out--Oswyn first. However,
it's no business of ours. I suppose he's safe to be elected next
week,--though he isn't a Scotchman, eh, Sandy old man?"

"Quite," said the other laconically.

And then their conversation was modulated into a less personal key
as they resumed their discussion of the colony of American
_pleinairistes_ with whom Rathbone had foregathered at Pontaven, and
of the "paintability" of fields of _sarrasin_ and poplars.

Rainham found it rather difficult to satisfy his inner self as to
his real, fundamental motive for wintering in England. Sir Egbert's
orders? They had not, after all, amounted to much more than an
expression of opinion, and it was somewhat late for him to begin to
obey his doctors. The transfer of his business? That could have been
carried out just as well in his absence by his solicitors.

For some time after Kitty's death--and her illness had certainly at
first detained him--he was able to assure himself that he was
waiting until little Margot (so he called the child) should have
secured a firm foothold in the affections of his foreman's family;
the fact that the Bullens were so soon to leave him seemed to render
this all more necessary. But now, in the face of Bullen's somewhat
deferential devotion and his wife's vociferous raptures, there
hardly seemed to be room for doubt on this score. For the present,
at least, the child ran no risk greater than that of being