looked into hers,
almost as the eyes of a nice dog might have done. "You have saved us a
long wait, and I'm only sorry we have taken you out of your way."

"Oh, that's nothing," Toni said. "I like being out on these bright days,
and I'm ever so glad I happened to be at the station."

She shook hands with Mrs. Herrick, who looked a pitifully fragile figure
as she stood beside the car; and then Toni gave the order for home, and
Fletcher obeyed that order too promptly to allow of any further
leave-takings.

Just for one moment Jim Herrick stood looking after the car, and in his
heart there was a great sickness of apprehension.

With the best intention in the world to be fair to his wife, he could
not help comparing the fresh, simple-hearted Toni with the world-weary
and disillusioned Eva; and at the thought of the future his spirits sank
to zero.

A mocking voice broke on his ear as he watched the car gliding swiftly
down the road.

"When you've finished staring at that young woman, Jim, perhaps you'll
open the gate." Eva stood back to allow him to reach the latch. "I must
say this is a nice place to bring me to. Is it a cottage or what?"

"It's quite a decent little place, dear," he said steadily, as he held
open the gate for her to pass through. "Of course, I quite understand
that it is only a temporary arrangement, but you will try to put up with
it, won't you?"

"I suppose I shall have to," she replied ungraciously; and then she
uttered an impatient exclamation as the big white dog tore over the lawn
to meet her master, uttering deep-throated bays of welcome the while.
"You've still got that beast, then--go down, you brute," she added, as
Olga approached, with instinctive courtesy, to greet her former
mistress.

"Don't snap at her, dear," said Herrick kindly. "The poor creature is
only trying to say how do you do."

"Then she can say it to someone else," said Eva curtly. "I hate big
dogs--I wish you'd get rid of her."

Herrick made no reply, but opened the door, and they went into the house
together.

Eva passed into the quaintly attractive sitting-room with a frown on her
face, which lightened, however, at sight of the tea-table standing
ready, and pulling off her gloves and coat she flung herself into a low
chair with a sigh of fatigue.

"Heavens, how thirsty I am," she said. "Give me some tea, Jim--quickly."
And as he moved forward to obey her, her eyes followed him with a
curious expression in th