no account. Beholding his pale, set face
Hermione, sighing deeply, shrank away; even M'Ginnis blenched as, very
slowly, Ravenslee approached him, speaking softly the while.

"Get out, Mr. Flowers, get out! Don't say another word--no, not one, if
only because of 'that dog-gone fool Heine!' Now go, or so help me God,
this time--I'll kill you!"

Hermione leaned her trembling body against the table for support. And
yet--could it be fear that had waked this new glory in her eyes, had
brought this glowing colour to her cheek, had made her sweet breath pant
and hurry so--fear?

M'Ginnis stood rigid, watching Ravenslee advance; suddenly he tried to
speak yet uttered no word; he raised a fumbling hand to his bruised and
swollen throat, striving again for speech but choked instead, and,
uttering a sound, hoarse and inarticulate, he swung upon his heel and
strode blindly away.

Then Ravenslee turned to find Hermione sunk down beside the table, her
burning face hidden between her arms, her betraying eyes fast shut.

"You are tired," he said gently, "that damned--er--I should say Mr.
Flowers and--other unpleasant things have upset you, haven't they?"

Hermione made a motion of assent, and Ravenslee continued, softer than
before:

"I wanted you to make up your mind to come away to-night, but--I can't
ask you now, can I? It--it wouldn't be--er--the thing, would it?"

Hermione didn't answer or lift her head and, stooping above her, he saw
how she was trembling; but her eyes were still fast shut.

"You--you're not afraid--of me, are you, Hermione?"

"No."

"And you're not--crying, are you?"

"No."

"Then I'd--better go, hadn't I? To Mrs. Trapes and supper--stewed beef,
I think, with--er--carrots and onions--"

Her head was still bowed, and his tone was so light, his voice so lazy,
how was she to know that his hands were quivering or see how the passion
of his yearning was shaking him, fighting for utterance against his
iron will? How was she to know anything of all this until, swiftly,
lightly, he stooped and kissed the shining glory of her hair? In a while
she raised her head, but then--she was alone.

CHAPTER XXII

TELLS OF AN EARLY MORNING VISIT AND A WARNING

Ravenslee dreamed that he was in a wood--with Hermione, of course. She
came to him through the leafy twilight, all aglow with youth and love,
eager to give herself to his embrace. And from her eyes love looked at
him unashamed, love touched him in