that other women were envying her for the attention
showered upon her by this much sought after man. She tried to assure
herself how fortunate she was, and now got Henry to tell her once more
of things about his home. It was in the fairest part of Kent, and they
had often talked of the wonderful garden they would have in that fertile
country sheltered from all wind, and she knew that as soon as the
divorce was over, she and Moravia would go and stay there and look over
it all, and meet his mother, which meeting had not yet been arranged.
For some unknown reason nothing would induce her to go now.

"I would rather see it for the first time, Henry, when I am engaged to
you. Now I should be an ordinary visitor--can't you understand?"

And he had said that he could. It always thrilled him when she appeared
to take an interest in his home.

They talked now about it--and how he would so love her to choose her own
rooms and have them arranged as she liked. Then he made pictures of
their life together there, and as he spoke her heart seemed to sink and
become heavier every moment, until at last she could bear no more.

It was about two dances before supper, into which she had promised to go
with him. She would get away to her room now and be alone until then.
She must pull herself together and act with common sense.

She told him that she had to settle her hair, which had become
disarranged, and saying he would wait for her he left her at the foot of
the smaller staircase, which led in a roundabout way to her and
Moravia's rooms. She had not wanted to pass through the great hall
where quantities of people were sitting out. She was just crossing the
corridor where the bachelors were lodged, when she almost ran into the
arms of Michael Arranstoun.

He stopped short and apologized--and then he said:

"I was coming to find you--there is something I must say to you. Mrs.
Forster's sitting-room is close here--will you come with me in there for
a moment; we can be alone."

Sabine hesitated. She looked up at him, so tall and masterful and
astonishingly handsome--and then she obeyed him meekly, and he led the
way into a cosy little room unlit except for a glowing mass of coals.

Michael turned on one electric lamp, and they both went over to the
chimney piece.

Intense excitement and emotion filled them, but while he tried to search
her face with his passionate eyes, she looked into the fire with lowered
head.

Then he spok