ult
of her plot.

"Oh, no, I'll do nothing rash," said Toni, with a queer smile; and Eva's
uneasiness deepened.

Luckily for her their conversation was cut short at that moment by the
entrance of Herrick, accompanied by Olga, and followed by the maid
bearing the tea-tray.

When the lamp had been lighted and the maid had withdrawn, Herrick shot
a glance at the face of his wife's visitor; and he saw at once that
something was wrong.

He did not betray his knowledge by the slightest sign; but talked to the
two girls in his usual kindly, whimsical fashion while Eva dispensed
tea.

"All the boats are really put away for the winter now," he said
presently. "I think yours--and ours--have been the last, Mrs. Rose. We
have had such wonderfully mild weather; but I'm afraid we shan't get any
more boating this season."

"Shan't we?" Toni sighed faintly. "I'm sorry--I have enjoyed the river
so much."

"Yes. We've had a glorious summer. But after all the winter will soon
pass and we'll be getting the boats out again."

"I hope we shan't be here when it's time to get the boats out," said Eva
crisply. "A winter here would just about finish me off."

"Oh, it's not bad," Herrick rejoined. "Sometimes it is quite pleasant
all the year round--though we get a fog now and again, of course."

"I don't propose remaining to sample the fogs," said Eva quietly. "Of
course you will do as you choose, but seeing I've never been properly
warm for months--we don't have nice fires in prison, you know--I think
you owe it to me to take me somewhere sunny this winter."

Herrick's face clouded, as it always did at any reference to Eva's
prison life; and Toni felt desperately uncomfortable.

She put down her cup and rose.

"I must really be going home, Eva. I didn't mean to stay to tea."

"Must you go? I'm sorry. I hoped you'd stay to dinner and enliven us a
little. Jim and I don't have very jovial evenings, do we, Jim? Sometimes
I think I might as well be back in my cell."

"Eva--don't." Herrick spoke quietly, and his wife laughed.

"My dear Jim, why be so squeamish? If Mrs. Rose doesn't mind associating
with jail-birds, I don't see why you should. I'm thinking of writing a
book on my experiences in prison, Toni. Do you think Mr. Rose would
collaborate with me--lick my raw stuff into shape, so to speak?"

Before Toni could reply, Herrick interrupted.

"If you are going, Mrs. Rose, I'll take you across the river in the old
punt, and s