. It was the case of
Mrs. Marigold that, as the Doctor grudgingly admits, went far to weaken
his hypothesis. Mrs. Marigold, having emerged, was spreading herself,
much to her own satisfaction. She had discarded her wedding ring as a
relic of barbarism--of the days when women were mere goods and
chattels, and had made her first speech at a meeting in favour of
marriage reform. Subterfuge, in her case, had to be resorted to.
Malvina had tearfully consented, and Marigold, M.P., was to bring Mrs.
Marigold to the Cross Stones that same evening and there leave her,
explaining to her that Malvina had expressed a wish to see her
again--"just for a chat."

All might have ended well if only Commander Raffleton had not appeared
framed in the parlour door just as Malvina was starting. His Cousin
Christopher had written to the Commander. Indeed, after the Arlington
affair, quite pressingly, and once or twice had thought he heard the
sound of Flight Commander Raffleton's propeller, but on each occasion
had been disappointed. "Affairs of State," Cousin Christopher had
explained to Malvina, who, familiar one takes it with the calls upon
knights and warriors through all the ages, had approved.

He stood there with his helmet in his hand.

"Only arrived this afternoon from France," he explained. "Haven't a
moment to spare."

But he had just time to go straight to Malvina. He laughed as he took
her in his arms and kissed her full upon the lips.

When last he had kissed her--it had been in the orchard; the Professor
had been witness to it--Malvina had remained quite passive, only that
curious little smile about her lips. But now an odd thing happened. A
quivering seemed to pass through all her body, so that it swayed and
trembled. The Professor feared she was going to fall; and, maybe to
save herself, she put up her arms about Commander Raffleton's neck, and
with a strange low cry--it sounded to the Professor like the cry one
sometimes hears at night from some little dying creature of the
woods--she clung to him sobbing.

It must have been a while later when the chiming of the clock recalled
to the Professor the appointment with Mrs. Marigold.

"You will only just have time," he said, gently seeking to release her.
"I'll promise to keep him till you come back." And as Malvina did not
seem to understand, he reminded her.

But still she made no movement, save for a little gesture of the hands
as if she were seeking