sting things and people
of their garments, of tearing away their veil of shams, and their
phylacteries! Shelton turned and cantered on; his thoughts were with
Antonia, and he did not want the glamour stripped away.

He was glancing at the sky, that every moment threatened to discharge
a violent shower of rain, when suddenly he heard his name called from
behind, and who should ride up to him on either side but Bill Dennant
and--Antonia herself!

They had been galloping; and she was flushed--flushed as when she stood
on the old tower at Hyeres, but with a joyful radiance different from
the calm and conquering radiance of that other moment. To Shelton's
delight they fell into line with him, and all three went galloping along
the strip between the trees and rails. The look she gave him seemed to
say, "I don't care if it is forbidden!" but she did not speak. He could
not take his eyes off her. How lovely she looked, with the resolute
curve of her figure, the glimpse of gold under her hat, the glorious
colour in her cheeks, as if she had been kissed.

"It 's so splendid to be at home! Let 's go faster, faster!" she cried
out.

"Take a pull. We shall get run in," grumbled her brother, with a
chuckle.

They reined in round the bend and jogged more soberly down on the far
side; still not a word from her to Shelton, and Shelton in his turn
spoke only to Bill Dennant. He was afraid to speak to her, for he knew
that her mind was dwelling on this chance forbidden meeting in a way
quite different from his own.

Approaching Hyde Park Corner, where Ferrand was still standing against
the rails, Shelton, who had forgotten his existence, suffered a shock
when his eyes fell suddenly on that impassive figure. He was about
to raise his hand, when he saw that the young foreigner, noting his
instinctive feeling, had at once adapted himself to it. They passed
again without a greeting, unless that swift inquisition; followed by
unconsciousness in Ferrand's eyes, could so be called. But the feeling
of idiotic happiness left Shelton; he grew irritated at this silence.
It tantalised him more and more, for Bill Dennant had lagged behind
to chatter to a friend; Shelton and Antonia were alone, walking their
horses, without a word, not even looking at each other. At one moment he
thought of galloping ahead and leaving her, then of breaking the vow
of muteness she seemed to be imposing on him, and he kept thinking:
"It ought to be either one thi