ecked with spume when at length he turned into a
road. There he pulled up to a steady trot and got home, rather wet and
splashed with mire, early in the afternoon, and after a bath and change
felt himself ready for the encounter. He had not much diplomacy, but
thought he could make up for that by stubbornly sticking to his point.

As he sat in the library with the door left open he heard Mrs. Foster
and her friends arrive and recognized the voices. Mrs. Keith had come
and Millicent, besides another lady whom he surmised was Mrs.
Chudleigh. He hardly thought his aunt, whom he had not taken into his
confidence, would mention him, and it might be better if he waited
until tea was served, after which the party would probably separate and
saunter about the hall and picture gallery. It was important that he
should have a few words with Mrs. Chudleigh alone. Fortune favoured
him, for when he entered the gallery she stood before a picture and the
nearest of her companions was some yards further on. She started when
he came up and joined her.

"You remember me, though I imagine my appearance is a surprise to you,"
he said with a bow.

"Yes," she answered calmly, though she had received something of a
shock. "Nobody told me you had returned from Canada."

"There was no obvious reason for thinking you would be interested. But
will you sit down? My uncle has some rather good miniatures which
might please you. They're in yonder drawer."

She looked at him sharply. "You may bring them. I suppose you have
something to say."

Blake placed the case of miniatures on a table and she took up one or
two. "They are worth seeing, and in good French style; beauties of
Marie Antoinette's court, perhaps, though this one in the high-waisted
dress may have been attached to Josephine's." Then she put them down
with a smile. "Now they have served their purpose. What have you to
say?"

"You must excuse the bluntness which I feel is needful. You came over
to see my uncle and I'm afraid you were disappointed in finding me
instead."

"Suppose I admit it? That wouldn't prevent my seeing Colonel Challoner
another time."

"Certainly not, provided that you still wished to do so, but I'm
inclined to think you won't consider it necessary when you know what my
attitude is. You must realize that a good deal depends on this."

"Yes," she said frankly, "in a sense, you're important. I see you
understand the situation."

"You be