by his subsequent engagement to
take Aunt Jeannie to a concert; but very likely he had thought over his
half promise to arrive early, and seen, which was indeed the case, that
it was not quite a usual thing to do.

No doubt that was it; no doubt he would explain it to her afterwards,
and Daisy settled in her own mind that she would at once admit the
reasonableness of it, though she would let it appear that she was a
little disappointed. And she was delighted that Aunt Jeannie liked him;
she had said that before to Lady Nottingham, but it was truer now than
when she had said it. For she had been conscious then of something in
her own mind that did not agree with the speech; she had been glad that
Aunt Jeannie liked him, but she would have been quite equally glad if
she did not.

It was not quite a nice feeling; there was something in common between
it and jealousy, and it had required a certain effort, which she had
gladly made, to put it away from her. That she had done.

From where she sat she could just see him at the head of the table, side
by side with Lady Nottingham; but she let herself look at him no more
than she looked, with but casual glances, at any of the others. But it
was very often that she heard, and allowed herself to listen for, that
great boisterous laugh which contained so much enjoyment. Her rare
glances in his direction, however, told her that it was Aunt Jeannie to
whom he was talking, for after a word or two to Lady Nottingham just
after he came in they had had no further conversation together. It was
clear, then, that he liked Aunt Jeannie. That was a good thing also.

The door from the dining-room was at that end of the room at which he
was sitting, and Daisy, on her way out, had to pass close to him. He had
not finished his talk with her aunt even then, for they both stood by
their chairs, she waiting till others had passed out. But as Daisy came
up he saw her.

"Why, Miss Daisy," he said, "haven't seen or heard you all
dinner-time. Been practising for a future incarnation as a mouse or
some dumb animal? Well, this is jolly, isn't it? And Mrs. Halton's
forgiven me for having a motor that breaks down, on condition of my
getting one that doesn't."

"Daisy darling," said Aunt Jeannie, putting her arm round the girl's
waist, "how are you? You must take my side. After having stuck for
an hour on a perfectly flat road, is it unreasonable that I couple
my forgiveness with a new car?--You shall