on of making an exhibit of my heart," she observed
mildly.

"It's wiser not, probably," he retorted disagreeably, and at that moment
Judson came into the room and began to arrange the tea-table beside his
master's chair.

"Put it over there," directed Trent sharply, indicating with a gesture
that the table should be placed near his guest, and Judson, his face
manifesting rather more surprise than is compatible with the wooden mask
demanded of the well-trained servant, hastened to comply.

When he had readjusted the position of the tea-table, he moved quietly
about the room, drawing the curtains and lighting the candles in their
silver sconces, so that little pools of yellow light splashed down on to
the smooth surface of the oak floor--waxed and polished till it gleamed
like black ivory.

As he withdrew unobtrusively towards the door, Trent tossed him a
further order.

"I shall want the car round in a couple of hours--at six," he said, and
smiled straight into Sara's startled eyes.

CHAPTER IX

THE HERMIT'S SHELL

Sara paused with the sugar-tongs poised above the Queen Anne bowl.

"Sugar?" she queried.

Trent regarded her seriously.

"One lump, please."

She handed him his cup and poured out another for herself. Then she said
lightly:

"I heard you order your car. Is this quite a suitable afternoon for
joy-riding?"

"More so than for walking," he retaliated. "I'm going to drive you
home."

"At six o'clock?"

"At six o'clock."

"And suppose I wish to leave before then?"

He cast an expressive glance towards the windows, where the rain could
be heard beating relentlessly against the panes.

"It's quite up to you . . . to walk home."

Sara made a small grimace of disgust.

"Otherwise," she said tentatively, "I am going to stay here, whether I
will or no?"

He nodded.

"Yes. It's my birthday, and I'm proposing to make myself a present of an
hour or two of your society," he replied composedly.

Sara regarded him with curiosity. He had been openly displeased to find
her trespassing on his estate--which was only what current report
would have led her to expect--yet now he was evincing a desire for her
company, and, in addition, a very determined intention to secure it. The
man was an enigma!

"I'm surprised," she said lightly. "I gathered from a recent remark of
yours that you didn't think too highly of women."

"I don't," he replied with uncompromising directness.

"Then why--why---