h so that I told the man to drive round and
round for a bit."

"And have we still time?"

"No."

"We shan't lose the train?"

"Unless it's delayed in starting, which isn't likely."

"Will the others go on and leave us?"

"Hardly!"

"You don't mean that Laura won't get home till tomorrow? Oh!"

"No. But don't look so frightened, no one will blame you--the
responsibility is mine entirely."

Isabel's lip curled. It was for Laura that she felt afraid and
not for herself, and surely he might have guessed as much as
that! "Did you do it on purpose?"

"No."

"I beg your pardon. That was stupid of me."

"Very," said Lawrence with his keen sarcastic smile.

At Waterloo he sprang out, tossed a sovereign to the driver, and
made Isabel catch up her skirts and run like a deer. But before
they reached the platform it was after twelve and the rails
beyond were empty. Selincourt and Laura were waiting by the
barrier, Selincourt red with impatience, Laura very pale.

"Are you aware you've lost the last train down?" said the elder
man with ill-concealed anger, as Lawrence, shortening his step,
strolled up in apparent tranquillity with Isabel on his arm.
"What on earth has become of you? We've been waiting here for
half an hour!"

"We were held up in the traffic," said Lawrence deliberately.
Isabel turned scarlet. The truth would have been insupportable,
but so was the lie. "Although it was no fault of mine, Laura,
I'm more sorry than I can say. Will you let me telephone for my
own car and motor you down? I could get you to Chilmark in the
small hours--long before the first morning train."

Laura hesitated: but Selincourt's brow was dark. The streets that
night had not been unusually crowded, ample time had been allowed
to cover any ordinary delay, and Isabel was cruelly confused. In
his simple code Hyde had committed at least one if not two
unpardonable sins--he had neglected one of the ladies in his
care if he had not affronted the other.

"That wouldn't do at all," he said with decision. "You've been
either careless or unlucky once, Lawrence. It might happen
again."

It was a direct challenge, and cost him an effort, but it was not
resented. "It would not. From my soul I regret this contretemps,
Lucian. Do you settle what's to be done: you're Laura's brother, I
put myself unreservedly in your hands."

"My dear fellow!" the gentle Lucian was instantly disarmed.
"After all we needn't make a mou