as he
addressed himself to Honor.

"Wouldn't it be well to send for Conolly?" he asked. But Evelyn
interposed.

"No,--no,--I don't want Dr Conolly. I'm all right now."

She raised herself on her elbow in proof of her statement.

"Mr Kresney was very kind to me. I have asked him to dinner. Won't you
stay too?"

"Thanks. I'll go and change, and come back later. You will do the
same, I presume?" And he looked directly at Kresney, who had wit
enough to perceive that the situation was untenable.

"It's very good of you to want me, Mrs Desmond," he said, elaborately
ignoring Wyndham's remark, "but I'd better not stop to-night. You
won't be fit for much talking after that nasty tumble."

"Perhaps not. You must come some other night instead. I won't forget."

She held out her hand with marked graciousness, flashing a defiant
glance at Paul, who, in sublime unconsciousness, followed Kresney out
into the verandah, and remained standing on the steps till he had
ridden out of sight.

No words passed between them except a mutually formal "Good-night."
But Paul succeeded in conveying the impression that he regarded
himself as Desmond's representative; and in making Kresney feel more
acutely uncomfortable than he had felt for many a long day. If he had
done no actual harm, the fault did not lie with him; and his
conscience sprang painfully to life under the lash of Wyndham's
contemptuous silence.

In the drawing-room, conversation fared little better.

"Why on earth was Major Wyndham so dignified and disagreeable?" Evelyn
queried in a tone of frank annoyance. "It isn't _his_ affair."

"You seem to forget that he is Theo's oldest friend."

Restrained anger quivered in the girl's low voice.

"He has news for you--from the Samana," she added. "There has been
sharp fighting. Theo's squadron has done a very dashing bit of
work;--Major Wyndham will tell you about it, _if_ you care to hear.
Now you had better lie quiet till you dress for dinner." And without
waiting for an answer she left the room.

* * * * *

Next morning, while she sat at work, wondering how she could broach
the forbidden subject, Evelyn herself came and stood before her with a
purposeful air of decision.

"Honor," she said, "I don't want anybody to say anything to--Theo
about my accident. Do you see? It is my business to tell him, and not
any one else's. Will you let Mrs Olliver know that, please? I don't
care to speak