aback that at first I could only
gasp and stare.

"How in the world did you know?" I asked at last, and he smiled and
said--

"Your face was very eloquent. It was very easy to read, wasn't it, Miss
Sackville?"

"I did not find it so transparent as you seem to have done; I suppose I
am dense," Vere replied, with a laugh that sounded a little bit
strained. "Is it true, Babs? Has Mr Dudley read the signs correctly?"

I had to confess, making as light of it as possible, but they weren't
deceived a bit.

"You hardly looked as if you didn't `care,'" Will remarked drily, and
Vere said quite quickly and eagerly--

"You must go, Babs--of course you must go! It is the very thing you
need. You have been a ministering angel to me, and I'm very grateful,
but I don't want the responsibility of making you ill. Change and the
beloved Lorna will soon bring back your roses, and it will be amusing to
hear of your escapades when you return. Don't think of me! It is good
for me to be quiet, and there are plenty of friends who will come in for
an hour or two if I feel the need of society. You will take pity on me,
won't you, Mr Dudley? You will come sometimes and have tea with mother
and me?"

"I shall be delighted," said Will, gravely. As for me, I didn't know
whether to be most pleased or depressed. I should pay my visit to
Lorna, that was practically settled from the moment Vere approved of the
proposal, which was one nice thing; and another was her remark that I
had been an angel; but it seemed as if I could be very easily spared,
and I had grown to think myself indispensable these last few weeks. We
talked a little more about it, and then Will and I went downstairs. He
didn't speak until we were nearly at the drawing-room door, when he said
abruptly--

"You are very eager to get away! Are you so tired of this neighbourhood
and all the people it contains?"

"Oh, so tired! so utterly, utterly tired!" I cried earnestly.

It sounded rude, perhaps, but at the moment I really felt it. I had
reached the stage of tiredness when I had a perfect craving for a
change. He didn't say a word, but stalked straight forward, and never
spoke to me again except to say good-night. It doesn't concern me, of
course, but I do hope for Rachel's sake that he hasn't a sulky nature.

Heigh-ho for Lorna! I am going at the end of next week. I am
positively bursting with delight!

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.