Duke bowed. He moved a few steps across towards the Princess.

"Princess," he said, "will you make a friend? Will you let me take your
little girl to my sister's for say one week? You shall have her back
then, and you shall do as you will with her."

"Willingly," the Princess answered. "I am only anxious that she should
be happy."

The Duke marvelled then at the sincerity in her tone. Nevertheless, for
fear she should change her mind, he hurried Jeanne out of the house
into his brougham.

CHAPTER XX

"So this," the Duke said, "is your wonderful land."

"Is there anything like it in the world?" Jeanne asked as she stood
bareheaded on the grass-banked dyke with her face turned seaward.

Above their heads the larks were singing. To their right stretched the
marshes and pasture land, as yet untouched by the sea, glorious with
streaks of colour, fragrant with the perfume of wild lavender and
mosses. To their left, through the opening in the sandbanks, came
streaming the full tide, rushing up into the land, making silver
water-ways of muddy places, bringing with it all the salt and freshness
and joy of the sea. Over their heads the seagulls cried. Far away a
heron lifted its head from a tuft of weeds, and sent his strange call
travelling across the level distance.

"Oh, it is beautiful to be here again!" Jeanne said. "Even though it
hurts," she added, in a lower tone, "it is beautiful."

A little boat came darting down the shallows. Kate Caynsard stood up
and waved her hand. Jeanne waved back. A sudden flush of colour stained
her cheeks. Her first impulse seemed to be to turn away. She conquered
it, however, and beckoned to the girl, who ran her boat close to them.

"My last sail," the girl cried, as she stepped to land. "I am saying
good-bye to all these wonderful places, Miss Le Mesurier," she added.
"To-morrow we are going to sail for Canada."

Jeanne looked at her in amazement.

"You are going to Canada?" she asked.

The girl, too, was surprised.

"Have you not heard?" she said. "I thought, perhaps, that Mr. Andrew
might have told you. Cecil and I are sailing to-morrow, directly after
we are married. He has bought a farm out there."

Jeanne felt for a moment that the beautiful world was spinning round
her. She clutched at the Duke's arm.

"You are going to Canada with Cecil?" she exclaimed.

"Of course," Kate answered, a little shyly. "I thought, in fact I know
that I told you about him. Won't