er first involuntary
qualms driven away by the friendly sound in Owen's voice. "We'll go back
and finish now. You'll come, Owen? I'll tell Maggie to bring back the
food."

"No, don't bother." He spoke quietly. "I'll go and brush off some of the
London dust while you and your friends finish your supper. I'll have a
bite later on. Don't worry about me." He turned to the boy. "I'm afraid
we're in for a storm. I felt a few drops as I came up the drive."

Somewhat reluctantly, Toni left her husband and returned to the
dining-room, where the Tobies anxiously awaited her coming. They had
practically finished their meal, and a few moments later rose from the
table and went into the drawing-room, where Toni presently excused
herself and went in search of her husband.

She found him in the library, where Andrew had just brought him a
slender repast; and even the unobservant Toni was struck by the look of
fatigue which brooded over his face as he sat poring over some
closely-written sheets.

"Owen, I'm sure you ought not to do that now. Do leave it till to-morrow
and come and listen to some music in the drawing-room instead."

She laid one small hand on the sheets as though to wrest them from his
grasp; but he lifted her fingers aside with a rather weary gesture.

"No, dear, I can't leave this." His voice was flat and toneless. "I've
promised to send it off the first thing to-morrow morning, and there's a
lot to be done yet."

"But I'm sure you're ill! Have you got neuralgia again?"

"A little--oh, it's nothing, only the thunder in the air. You might tell
Andrews to bring me some phenacetin, will you, dear? And now, my child,
run away to your guests--they'll think it queer if you leave them alone
much longer."

Toni turned obediently to the door, but she was not yet easy in her
mind.

"Owen, are you sure there is nothing I can do?"

"Nothing, thank you, dear. I believe the storm is passing after all."

He spoke the truth, for with a few more mutterings the thunder died away
in the distance; and though the promised coolness did not come, both
Owen and Toni were relieved by the lightening atmosphere--Toni because
she was an arrant coward where thunderstorms were concerned; Owen
because he felt that the clash of the elements would render the
neuralgic pains in his head almost unbearable.

For long after Toni, relieved, had gone back to her visitors he sat
doing nothing, lacking the energy to attack his task. Now and t