st at first. I am afraid--I can't tell you what of--but I am
afraid."

He talked to her reassuringly, holding her hands--most of the time, in
fact, for the country was a sparsely populated one, with his arm
around her waist. And then suddenly she seemed to lose her new-found
content. Her cheeks were suddenly white. She looked everywhere
restlessly about.

"What is the matter, dear?" he asked anxiously.

"I thought that I heard something!" she exclaimed. "What is the time?"

"Four o'clock," he answered, looking at his watch.

"Please tell the man to go back, straight back home," she said. "I am
tired. I must get back. Please, Maurice!"

He gave the chauffeur instructions through the speaking-tube. The car
swung round, and they sped on their way through the quiet lanes.

"Dear Lois," he said, "something has come over you. Your hands are
cold, and you have drawn yourself away. Now please be honest and tell
me all about it. If you have fears, all I can say is that you may
dismiss them. You are safe now that you have given yourself to me, as
safe as anyone in the world could be."

"Oh! If I could believe it!" she whispered, but she did not turn her
head. Her eyes sought his no longer. They were fixed steadfastly on
the road in front.

"You must believe it," he declared, laughing. "I can assure you that I
am strong enough to hold you, now that I have the right. If any
troubles or worries come, they are mine to deal with! See, we will not
mince words. If that little reptile dares to crawl near you, I'll set
my foot upon his neck. By God, I will!"

She took no notice of his speech, except to slowly shake her head. It
seemed as though she had not heard him. By and bye he left off talking.
There was nothing he could say to bring back the color to her cheeks,
or the light to her eyes, or the confidence to her tone. Something had
happened--he could not tell what--but for the moment she was gone from
him. The little hands which his still clasped were as cold as ice. It
seemed to him that they were unwilling prisoners. Once, when he would
have passed his arm around her waist, she even shuddered and drew
away.

The car rushed on its way, turned into the great avenue, and drew up
in front of Beauleys. Lois stepped out quickly, and went on ahead. In
the hall several people were standing, and amongst them Bertrand
Saton!

Vandermere's face was dark as a thundercloud when his eyes fell upon
the young man--carefully, almost