s arrested by the silvery sweetness of the tone
in which she spoke. He had a feeling that she meant to convey to Miss
Lentaigne something more than her words implied. Miss Lentaigne struck a
match noisily and lit another cigarette.

"She may be a little wanting in animation," said Lady Torrington, "but
that is a fault which one can forgive nowadays when so many girls run
into the opposite extreme and become self-assertive."

"Priscilla," said Miss Lentaigne, "is not always quite so good as she
was this evening."

"You must be quite pleased that she isn't," said Lady Torrington, with
a deliberate, soft smile. "With your ideas about the independence of our
sex I can quite understand that Priscilla, if she were always as quiet
and gentle as she was this evening, would be trying, very trying."

Frank became acutely uncomfortable. He had entered the room noisily
enough, hobbling on his two sticks; but neither lady seemed to be aware
of his presence. He began to feel as if he were eavesdropping, listening
to a conversation which he was not intended to hear. He hesitated for
a moment, wondering whether he ought to say a formal good-night, or get
out of the room as quietly as he could without calling attention to his
presence. Miss Lentaigne's next remark decided him.

"Your own daughter," she said, "seems to have imbibed some of our more
modern ideas. That must be a trial to you, Lady Torrington."

Frank got up and made his way out of the room without speaking.

CHAPTER XVI

To reach the corner of the shrubbery it was necessary to cross the lawn.
Lord Torrington and Sir Lucius, having lit fresh cigars, were pacing up
and down in earnest conversation. Frank hobbled across their path and
received a kindly greeting from his uncle.

"Well, Frank, out for a breath of fresh air before turning in? Sorry
you can't join our march. Lord Torrington is just talking about your
father."

"Thanks, Uncle Lucius," said Frank, "but I can't walk. There's a hammock
chair in the corner. I'll sit there for a while and smoke another
cigarette."

Sir Lucius and Lord Torrington walked briskly, turning each time they
reached the edge of the grass and walking briskly back again. Frank
realised that Priscilla, if she was to keep her appointment, must cross
their track. He watched anxiously for her appearance. The stable clock
struck ten. In the shadow of the verandah in front of the dining-room
window Frank fancied he saw a moving fi