rectly towards the path. It would seem as though she expected to
find Cuthbert, for she walked straight up to him and caught his hand.
There was no one about to see their meeting, but Juliet was not
disposed to behave tenderly.

"Why are you here?" she asked. "Susan Grant told me you--"

"Susan Grant!" echoed Cuthbert, resolved not to know too much in the
presence of Juliet. "I saw her name in the papers. How does she know
me?"

"I can't say," said Juliet quickly; "come along this way." She hurried
along the narrow path, talking all the time. "She came in just now and
said you were waiting in the by-path. I came out at once. I don't
want my mother to see you."

"Really!" cried Cuthbert, rather nettled. "I don't see that I have any
reason to avoid Mrs. Octagon."

"She will not allow me to see you. If she knew I was meeting you she
would be very angry. We are here only till to-morrow. Now that Aunt
Selina is buried and the will read, we return to Kensington at once.
Come this way. Let us get into the open. I don't wish my mother to
follow and find me speaking to you."

They emerged into a waste piece of land, distant a stone-throw from the
railway station, but secluded by reason of many trees and shrubs.
These, belonging to the old Rexton estate, had not yet been rooted up
by the builder, and there ran a path through the heart of the miniature
wood leading to the station. When quite screened from observation by
the friendly leafage, Juliet turned quickly. She was pale and ill in
looks, and there were dark circles under her eyes which told of
sleepless nights. But she was dressed with her usual care and behaved
in a composed manner.

"I wish you had not come, Cuthbert," she said, again taking his hand,
"at least not at present. Later on--"

"I wanted to see you at once," said Mallow, determinedly. "Did not
Basil tell you so?"

Juliet shook her head. "He said he met you the other day, but gave me
no message."

"Then he is not the friend I took him to be," said Mallow angrily.

"Don't be angry with Basil," said Juliet, gently. "The poor boy has
quite enough trouble."

"Of his own making," finished Cuthbert, thoroughly annoyed. "See here,
Juliet, this sort of thing can't go on. I have done nothing to warrant
my being treated like this. Your mother is mad to behave as she is
doing. I insist on an explanation."

Juliet did not pay attention to this hasty speech. "How do you know
Basil has t