nswered in the only manner possible, by turning it into a
joke."

"I suppose so. Yes. It must have been a joke. She _looks_ happy."
The birdlike eyes roved towards Martin, who had just entered the room
with the other men, and subjected him to a curious scrutiny. "_Do_ you
think he looks worth it?"

"My dear, it is immaterial what I think! How can any outsider judge of
the worth which another woman's husband represents to herself? It's not
a question of credentials. It's a question of _fit_!"

Half an hour later the Squire buttonholed Peignton in a corner of the
room, and gave him his instructions.

"I've ordered the car for Miss Mallison. See her safely home, will you,
and take it on to your own place? Might as well do two good turns while
it's about it."

His look gave significance to the words, and Peignton could not do less
than declare his pleasure at the suggestion. As a matter of fact,
however, it was not pleasure of which he was conscious at that moment,
but something unaccountably like disappointment.

He had not expected the evening to end so soon; he was unwilling to be
dismissed. Throughout the long dinner he had been subconsciously
looking forward to something to come; and he now felt defrauded and
chilled. He had imagined that he would have had five minutes' talk with
Lady Cassandra--that they would laugh together, and in the meeting of
eyes exchange confidences which it would have been indiscreet to put
into words, but Cassandra was surrounded by guests of honour, and
apparently oblivious of his presence.

She turned with a start as he approached her with Teresa by his side,
and received the girl's adieux with a gracious smile. "So soon!
Captain Peignton going to see you home. That's right. _Good_ night.
It was really noble of you to come to the rescue. So very many thanks!"

Her manner to the girl was all that could be wished, but as she turned
to Peignton there came an unmistakable chill. Her face, her voice, the
fleeting touch of her hand were alike cold, devoid of friendship.

Cassandra was disappointed too, and, womanlike, vented her displeasure
on her fellow-sufferer. She also had looked forward to a few brief
moments of communion after the emptiness of the evening. She also had
the baffled feeling of one who has waited for naught. The while she
listened to Lady Mawson's dreary pronouncements she watched the dark
figure follow the girl from the room, and a pang pierced h