long legs leisurely keeping pace with her shorter ones,
smiled down at her.

"And now, for the second time of asking, where are you off to?"

"I'm going to France--to fetch Michael."

He gave a quick exclamation--whether of surprise or disapproval she was
not quite sure.

"You haven't heard from him, then?"

"No. And unless something happens _quick_, it will be too late."

"But if he were at his studio he would surely have answered Lady
Arabella's letter."

"Yes, I suppose so," replied Gillian absently, her eyes following the
queue of passengers passing through the gate on the platform. By mutual
consent they had come to a standstill outside it.

"Then if he isn't there, what's the use of your rushing over to Paris?"
protested Storran. "It's absurd--an absolute wild-goose chase. You can't
go!"

Gillian's brown eyes came back to his face.

"But I'm going," she said calmly.

He frowned.

"If Michael's not at his studio he may be--anywhere!"

She nodded.

"I know. If so, I shall follow--anywhere."

Storran looked down at her and read the quiet determination in her face.

"Then let me come too," he said. "Sort of courier, you know. I'd just be
at hand in case of a tangle."

"Oh, no! I couldn't let you. There's not the least need. Good heavens,
I'm not a baby!"

There was a curious softness in Dan's blue eyes as they rested on her.

"No. I think you're--a very good friend," he said. "But I don't see why
you should have the monopoly! Let me show I know how to be a good pal,
too, if I want to."

"No--no." Gillian still protested, but her tone betrayed signs of
weakening.

"We'll be as conventional as you like," urged Dan, twinkling. "I'd stop
at different hotels."

"Well, but--"

"Say 'yes'!" he insisted.

Gillian smiled.

"You obstinate person! Yes, then!"

"Thank you. Then I'll go along and buy a ticket."

He turned and went towards the booking-office, while Gillian, inwardly
much relieved, awaited his return. She could not but acknowledge that
in the "wild-goose chase" upon which she was embarking it would be an
enormous comfort to have Storran at hand in case of an emergency. As to
the proprieties--well, Gillian was far too honest and independent a soul
to worry about them in the circumstances. Her friend's happiness was
at stake. And whether people chose to talk because she and Dan Storran
travelled to Paris together--or to Timbuctoo, for the matter of that, if
Michael had chanced to