on....

When the song ended he rose abruptly, and Chloe was startled by the
change in his manner.

"I must really say good-bye, Mrs. Carstairs." He had not touched his
coffee. "Many thanks for your hospitality." He shook hands with her and
turned to Iris with something of an effort. "And many thanks for your
songs, Miss Wayne." He tried to smile as they exchanged a handshake, but
the attempt was a failure.

"I'll come to the steps with you, my dear," volunteered Cherry politely,
and without further leave-taking Anstice went out into the hall, seized
his hat, and stumbled towards the door, half-blinded by the pain of that
terribly acute inward vision.

He took leave of Cherry with a hasty courtesy which would have hurt some
children, but was not displeasing to the stately Cherry; and three
minutes later he was driving down the avenue at a furious pace, in a
vain endeavour to outstrip the phantoms which a girl's careless song had
evoked from their place in the background of his thoughts.

* * * * *

After his abrupt departure Iris turned impulsively to her hostess.

"Mrs. Carstairs"--her voice was disturbed--"what was wrong with Dr.
Anstice just now? Did my singing displease him? He got up and went
so--so unexpectedly."

For a moment Chloe said nothing. Then:

"Don't you think you are rather too imaginative, Iris? Probably Dr.
Anstice remembered some urgent case, and thought he ought to go at
once."

"No. I don't think that was it." Iris sank down on to the cushioned
window-seat and gazed thoughtfully ahead. "I think----I wonder if that
last song could have any associations for him? Has he been in India?"

"I don't know." Chloe smiled faintly. "You must ask him, Iris. I suppose
your father would send for him if he were ill, wouldn't he, now that Dr.
Meade is really gone?"

"I suppose so." Iris spoke rather dreamily. "At first I thought he was
quite old--at least forty," said the schoolgirl. "And then, when he
talked to Cherry I was not really sure. I guessed he might be worried
about professional things and look older than he was. And now----"

She broke off, and for a moment Chloe Carstairs made no rejoinder,
though her blue, almond-shaped eyes held a slightly quizzical
expression.

"And now"--she said at length--"what is your opinion now?"

"Now"--Iris spoke very slowly, and in her eyes was something of the
womanly tenderness and strength whose possibility Anstice ha