ives no explanation, but he is coming to-night. Coming to call
after dinner, and he asks me to see him alone, so I'll find out all
about it, and tell you afterwards."

"Alone!" Ron's face was eloquent with surprise, disappointment, and a
dawning suspicion. "Why alone? It's more my affair than yours. I
_must_ thank him before he goes."

"I'll send for you, then. I suppose he wants to explain to me first.
I'll be sure to send for you!" reiterated Margot hurriedly, as she
disappeared through the doorway. Her first impulse was, girl-like, to
make for her own room, to give those final touches to hair and dress,
which are so all-important in effect, and that done, to sit alone,
listening for the expected knock at the door, the sound of footsteps
ascending to the drawing-room. To meet George Elgood here! To see his
tall dark figure outlined against the familiar background of home,--
Margot gasped at the thought, and felt her heart leap painfully at every
fresh sound.

The postman, the parcels delivery, a van from the Stores, had all
claimed the tribute of a blush, a gasp, and a fresh rush to the glass,
before at last slow footsteps were heard mounting the stairs, and Mary's
voice at the door announced, "A gentleman to see you, Miss Margot!" and
in another minute, as it seemed, she was facing George Elgood across the
length of the drawing-room.

The roles of invalid and anxious inquirer seemed for the moment to be
reversed, for while she was pink and smiling, he was grave and of a
ghastly pallor. Nervous also; for the first words of greeting were an
unintelligible murmur, and they seated themselves in an embarrassed
silence.

"You--er--you received my letter?"

"Yes!" Margot gazed at the tips of her dainty slippers, and smiled
softly to herself. In the interval which had passed since they last
met, the Editor had evidently suffered a relapse into his old shyness
and reserve. She had guessed as much from the somewhat stilted
phraseology of his letter, and was prepared to reassure him by her own
outspoken gratitude.

"Yes; I was so pleased!"

He gave a little start of astonishment, and stared at her with bright,
incredulous eyes.

"Pleased? You mean it? You did not think it a liberty--"

"Indeed I did not. I guessed what you had to tell me, and it made me so
happy."

He leaned forward impetuously, the blood flushing his cheeks.

"You had guessed before? You knew it was coming?"

"Not exactly, bu