aking up a fire-screen of peacocks' feathers,
as though to shield her face from the fire. "Well, it is quite an
accident. I wrote you rather a silly letter the other day; but you
must not think that I have followed you down here!"

"I did not think so," he answered hastily. "The idea never occurred,
never could have occurred to me!"

She continued, without heeding his interruption: "I will explain how
we came to take this cottage. A relative of mine came to me suddenly
from abroad. She was in great trouble, and was in search of a very
secluded dwelling-place, where she might live for a time unknown. I
also was in bad health, and the doctor had ordered me complete rest
and quiet. We went to a house agent, and told him what we wanted--to
get as far away from every one as possible. We did not care how lonely
the place was, or how far from London; the further the better. This
house was to let, furnished, and at a low figure. I did not know that
Vaux Abbey was in the same county even. It suited us, and we took it."

"I understand," Paul answered. "And now that you are here, are you not
afraid of finding it dull?"

She turned away from him, biting her lip. "You do not understand me!
You never will. No! I shall not be dull."

"I beg your pardon, Adrea. I----"

"Be quiet!" she interrupted impetuously. "You think that I am too
frivolous to live away from the glare and excitement of the city.
Of course! To you I am just the dancing girl, nothing more. Do not
contradict me. I hate your serious manner. I hate your patronage.
Don't contradict me, I say. Tell me this. How did you find me out? Why
are you here?"

"I have been out hunting, and I lost my way," Paul answered quietly.
"I know Major Harcourt, and, thinking he was still living here, I
called for a rest, and to put my horse up. Your step-mother has been
very kind and hospitable."

Adrea looked at him curiously. "Indeed! She has been kind to you, has
she? Who told you that she was my step-mother?"

"I thought I understood you to say so."

"Did I? Perhaps so; I don't remember. So she was kind to you, was she?
She has no cause to be."

"No cause to be! Why not?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "Oh, I don't know. I'm talking a little at
random, I think. You angered me, Monsieur Paul. I am a silly girl, am
I not? Do you know that I have thrown up all my engagements until next
season? I do not think that I shall dance again at all."

"I am glad to hear it."

"But I