far as they were concerned, Halcyone might start at once. They always
left for the north in the middle of the month, and if the Professor
wanted to get away sooner, they did not wish to interfere with his
arrangements. Halcyone must come and pay them another visit later on.

As for the Aunts La Sarthe--their heads appeared to be completely turned
by their sojourn at the seaside! They proposed to remain there all the
summer, and put forward no objection to their niece's excursion with Mr.
Carlyon. The once quiet spot of their youth had developed into a
fashionable Welsh watering place, and Miss Roberta was taking on a new
lease of health and activity from the pleasure of seeing the crowded
parade, while the Aunt Ginevra allowed that the exhilarating breezes and
cerulean waters were certainly most refreshing!

Before the Professor could leave for a lengthy trip abroad, it was
necessary that he should return to the orchard house for a day, and
Halcyone accompanied him, leaving Priscilla in London. Her mission was
to secure the goddess's head--but, as there was no one at La Sarthe
Chase, she decided just to go there and get her treasure and sleep the
night at Cheiron's.

It would be an excursion of much pain to her, to be so near to her still
loved lover and to feel the cruel gulf between them, but she must face
it if she desired Aphrodite to accompany them. The Professor suggested
she might take him through the secret passage and try with his help to
open the heavy box. No such opportunity had ever occurred before or was
likely to occur again, her aunts being absent and even old William
nowhere about. It made the chance one in a thousand. So she agreed, and
determined to force herself to endure the pain which going back would
cause her.

She was perfectly silent all the way from London to Upminster--and Mr.
Carlyon watched her furtively. He knew very well what was passing in her
mind, and admired the will which suppressed the expression of it. She
grew very pale indeed in the station-fly when they passed the gates of
Wendover. It was about half past three in the afternoon--and the
Professor had promised to come to the archway opening of the secret
passage at five.

So Halcyone left him and took her way down the garden and through the
little gate into the park. It seemed like revisiting some scene in a
former life, so deep was the chasm which separated the last time she
walked that way from this day. She passed the oa