"I must go and dress,
and so must you, dad. We are going to the Hunt Ball to-night," she added,
with a brief glance in her husband's direction.

He made no reply of any sort. His eyes were fixed upon her left hand.
After a moment she became aware of this, and slipped it carelessly into
her pocket. Whistling softly, she turned to go.

At the foot of the stairs she heard her father's voice, and paused.

"You had better come, too," he was saying to his son-in-law.

Nan wheeled sharply, almost as if she would protest, but she checked her
words unspoken.

Quietly Piet Cradock was making reply:

"Thank you, Colonel. I think I had better."

Across the hall Nan met his gaze still unwaveringly fixed upon her, and
she returned it with the utmost defiance of which she was capable. Did
he actually fancy that she could be coerced into joining him, she asked
herself--she who had always been free as the air? Well, he would soon
discover his mistake. She would begin to teach him from that moment.

With her head still held high, she turned and mounted the stairs.

Mona was waiting for her in much disturbance of spirit.

"He arrived early this afternoon," was her report. "We were all so
astonished. He has come for you, Nan, and he says he must start back next
week without fail. Isn't it short notice? I wish he had written to say he
was coming. He sat and talked to dad all the afternoon. And then, as you
didn't come, he started off in his motor to find you. He must have gone
to the station first, or he would have met you sooner."

To all this Nan listened with a set face, while she raced through her
dressing. She made no comment whatever. The only signs that she heard
lay in her tense expression and unsteady fingers.

They did not descend till the last minute, just as the carriage
containing the Colonel and three more of his daughters was driving away.

Piet was standing like a massive statue in the hall. As the two girls
came down, he moved forward.

"I have kept the motor for you," he said.

Mona thanked him. Nan did not utter a word. She would not touch the hand
that would have helped her in, and she kept her lips firmly closed
throughout the drive.

When she entered the ballroom at length her husband was by her side, but
neither by word nor look did she acknowledge his presence there.

Jerry spied her instantly, and came towards her. She went quickly to meet
him.

"For goodness' sake," she whispered urgently, "hel