livered.

"Her ladyship is out in the grounds, sir. As it is so warm in the house,
sir, her ladyship requests that you come to her in the grounds. If you
will allow me, sir, I will show you the way."

Jim Airth restrained an inclination to say: "Buck up!" and followed the
butler along a corridor, down a wide staircase to a lower hall. They
stepped out on to a terrace running the full length of the house. Below
it, an old-fashioned garden, with box borders, bright flower beds, a
fountain in the centre. Beyond this a smooth lawn, sloping down to a
beautiful lake, which sparkled and gleamed in the afternoon sunshine. On
this lawn, well to the right, half-way between the house and the water,
stood a group of beeches. Beneath their spreading boughs, in the cool
inviting shadow, were some garden chairs. Jim Airth could just discern,
in one of these, the white gown of a woman, holding a scarlet parasol.

The butler indicated this clump of trees.

"Her ladyship said, sir, that she would await you under the beeches."

He returned to the house, and Jim Airth was left to make his way alone to
Lady Ingleby, guided by the gleam among the trees of her brilliant
parasol. Even at that moment it gave him pleasure to find Lady Ingleby's
taste in sunshades, resembling Myra's.

He stood for a minute on the terrace, taking in the matchless beauty of
the place. Then his face grew sad and stern. "What a home to leave," he
said; "and to leave it, never to return!"

He still wore a look of sadness as he descended the steps leading to the
flower garden, made his way along the narrow gravel paths; then stepped
on to the soft turf of the lawn, and walked towards the clump of
beeches.

Jim Airth--tall and soldierly, broad-shouldered and erect--might have
made an excellent impression upon Lady Ingleby, had she watched his
coming. But she kept her parasol between herself and her approaching
guest.

In fact he drew quite near; near enough to distinguish the ripples of
soft lace about, her feet, the long graceful sweep of her gown; and still
she seemed unconscious of his close proximity.

He passed beneath the beeches and stood before her. And, even then, the
parasol concealed her face.

But Jim Airth was never at a loss, when sure of his ground. "Lady
Ingleby," he said, with grave formality; "I was told to----"

Then the parasol was flung aside, and he found himself looking down into
the lovely laughing eyes of Myra.

To see Jim Airth'