way to
pierce this upstart girl's armour of complacency was to launch shafts of
cleverly-veiled contempt; and although to Owen these darts were either
imperceptible or merely accidental, Toni knew very well that they were
intended to wound.

Owen, wrapped up in his book, and only anxious to further the work as
rapidly as possible, had no time to spare for these feminine amenities.
He realized, of course, that Toni did not care for Miss Loder; but he
thought he understood that her dislike came, rather pathetically, from
her consciousness of her own shortcomings: and had no idea that Miss
Loder herself was largely responsible for the lack of harmony between
them.

On what might be called the literary side of him, he thought Millicent
Loder an excellent secretary, the one woman with whom he found it
possible to work; but on what might be called the personal side, his
interest was _nil_. True, he liked her trim appearance, though he would
never have dreamed of comparing it with Toni's more unconventional
attraction. He admired her quiet independence, and recognized her at
once as belonging to his own world; but he never thought of her in any
relation save that of secretary and general assistant; and even Toni was
sufficiently wise to recognize the fact.

All the same Toni mistrusted the other woman; and it was with a feeling
of intensest apprehension that she received Owen's announcement that
Barry had arranged for a substitute at the office--thus setting Miss
Loder free to resume her work at Greenriver.

* * * * *

It chanced on a beautiful October day that Owen found it necessary to go
to town on business connected with the _Bridge_; and for once he went up
by train, bidding Toni use the car if she felt so inclined.

She did feel inclined; and after a very early lunch, jumped into the
waiting motor, and directed Fletcher to drive over to Cherry Orchard, in
the hope of inducing the doctor's daughters to share her excursion.

Disappointment awaited her, however. Both the Tobies were away from home
on a short visit, and Toni was obliged to proceed alone.

She had enjoyed a couple of hours' spin in the frosty air, when she
found herself being carried swiftly past the railway station, and a
thought struck her which she communicated to Fletcher without delay.

Yes, Fletcher opined, it was just time the London train was due, and
since it was quite possible Mr. Rose had travelled by it, h