ought you would see him," she added.

Peg gave Faith a nudge.

"See him? Of course you will," she said in a stage whisper.

Faith coloured. "I can't--I...."

Peg came forward.

"Well, shall I see him for you?" But Faith was not going to allow this.
After all, she was Forrester's wife and mistress of the house.

"I'll see him myself," she said.

Peg smiled, well pleased, and presently Faith went slowly down the
stairs, with a nervously beating heart, and pushed open the closed
drawing-room door.

A man was standing by the window looking into the garden; he was a
rather short, thick-set man, and he turned eagerly as Faith entered.

"Mrs. Forrester?" he asked. "Well, I am glad to meet you. I've known
Nicholas all my life, or for a good part of it," he explained in a
rather young and charming voice. "We were abroad together for some
years, so, of course, he was the first person I looked up when I got
over here." He wrung her hand in a bear-like grip. "So the old boy's
married," he went on. "Well, I'm delighted, and though I know it's not
the right thing to do, I'm going to congratulate you instead of him,
Mrs. Forrester. You've got one of the best."

Faith smiled nervously.

"You're very kind," she said. "He--he's out, but--but if you'll wait I'm
sure he won't be long."

"I'm sure he won't, too," the man said laughing. "With a home like this
to come to, and a wife...." His eyes rested admiringly on her face. "But
Nicholas was always one of the lucky ones."

He was very friendly and unaffected, and Faith was surprised because she
did not feel less at her ease, but she wished Peg would come down; Peg
could always be relied upon to chip in and keep the ball of conversation
going. She was wondering whether to fetch her when the door opened and
Forrester himself walked in.

"Digby! Jove, I am glad to see you." The two men gripped hands and
thumped one another on the back like delighted schoolboys. Faith had
never seen her husband look so pleased before. She felt the slightest
pang of envy and unwantedness as she stood there, forgotten for the
moment, as they laughed and talked and questioned one another as to the
happenings of the years since they had last met.

"And you'll stay with me, of course?" Forrester said. "I'd take it as a
deadly insult if you went anywhere else. I----" He suddenly remembered
Faith and turned to her. "My wife will be delighted to welcome you, I'm
sure," he said rather formally.

"M