h, I
undertook the thing on impulse."

"So it seems. But you haven't told me what became of my hamper."

"The hamper was unfortunately smashed. I left it at a basket shop; and
that explains the cloak. My friend, the taxidermist, insisted on
lending it and his winter gloves to me. One looks rather conspicuous
walking through the streets with a bobcat on one's arm."

Then, to Blake's astonishment, Mrs. Keith broke into a soft laugh.

"I understand it all," she said. "It was a prank one would expect you
to play. Though it's a very long time since I saw you, you haven't
changed, Dick. Now take that ridiculous cloak off and come back and
talk to me."

When Blake returned, Millicent had gone, and Mrs. Keith noticed the
glance he cast about the room.

"I sent Miss Graham away," she said. "You have been here some days.
Why didn't you tell me who you were?"

"I wasn't sure you would be willing to acknowledge me," he answered
frankly.

"Oh, I never quite agreed with the popular opinion about what you were
supposed to have done. It wasn't like you; there must have been
something that did not come out."

"Thank you," Blake said quietly.

She gave him a searching glance.

"Can't you say something for yourself?" she urged.

"I think not. The least said, the soonest mended, you know."

"But for the sake of others."

"So far as I know, only one person was much troubled about my disgrace.
I'm thankful my father died before it came."

"Your uncle felt it very keenly. He was furious when the first news
arrived, and refused to believe you were to blame. Then, when Major
Allardyce wrote, he scarcely spoke for the rest of the day, and it was
a long time before he recovered from the blow; I was staying at
Sandymere. He loved you, Dick, and I imagined he expected you to do
even better than his son."

Blake mused for a few moments, and Mrs. Keith could not read his
thoughts.

"Bertram is a good fellow," he said. "Why should his people think less
of him because he likes to paint? But I've been sorry for the Colonel;
more sorry than I've felt for myself."

There was a softness in his dark blue eyes that appealed to Mrs. Keith.
She had been fond of Dick Blake in his younger days and firmly believed
in him. Now she could not credit his being guilty of cowardice.

"Well," she said, "you have a long life before you, I trust; and there
are people who would be glad to see you reinstated."

He made a sign of gr