little
tremulously, biting her lip, "I have to go out into Westbourne Grove to
get those gloves for to-night, and a spray for my hair; will you excuse
me for half an hour?"

Holsworthy rose too. "Mayn't I go with you?" he asked, eagerly.

"Oh, if you like. How very kind of you!" Daphne answered, her cheek a
blush rose. "Hubert, will you come too? and you, Hilda?"

It was one of those invitations which are given to be refused. I did not
need Hilda's warning glance to tell me that my company would be quite
superfluous. I felt those two were best left together.

"It's no use, though, Dr. Cumberledge!" Hilda put in, as soon as they
were gone. "He WON'T propose, though he has had every encouragement.
I don't know what's the matter; but I've been watching them both for
weeks, and somehow things seem never to get any forwarder."

"You think he's in love with her?" I asked.

"In love with her! Well, you have eyes in your head, I know; where could
they have been looking? He's madly in love--a very good kind of love,
too. He genuinely admires and respects and appreciates all Daphne's
sweet and charming qualities."

"Then what do you suppose is the matter?"

"I have an inkling of the truth: I imagine Mr. Cecil must have let
himself in for a prior attachment."

"If so, why does he hang about Daphne?"

"Because--he can't help himself. He's a good fellow and a chivalrous
fellow. He admires your cousin; but he must have got himself into some
foolish entanglement elsewhere which he is too honourable to break off;
while at the same time he's far too much impressed by Daphne's fine
qualities to be able to keep away from her. It's the ordinary case of
love versus duty."

"Is he well off? Could he afford to marry Daphne?"

"Oh, his father's very rich: he has plenty of money; a Canadian
millionaire, they say. That makes it all the likelier that some
undesirable young woman somewhere may have managed to get hold of him.
Just the sort of romantic, impressionable hobbledehoy such women angle
for."

I drummed my fingers on the table. Presently Hilda spoke again. "Why
don't you try to get to know him, and find out precisely what's the
matter?"

"I KNOW what's the matter--now you've told me," I answered. "It's as
clear as day. Daphne is very much smitten with him, too. I'm sorry for
Daphne! Well, I'll take your advice; I'll try to have some talk with
him."

"Do, please; I feel sure I have hit upon it. He has got himself engag