w seconds
it had disappeared round a sharp curve. The leafy branches that grew out
over the line swayed violently backwards and forwards in the perturbed
air.

'If I were ten years younger,' said Jasper, laughing, 'I should say that
was jolly! It enspirits me. It makes me feel eager to go back and plunge
into the fight again.'

'Upon me it has just the opposite effect,' fell from Marian, in very low
tones.

'Oh, don't say that! Well, it only means that you haven't had enough
holiday yet. I have been in the country more than a week; a few days
more and I must be off. How long do you think of staying?'

'Not much more than a week, I think.'

'By-the-bye, you are coming to have tea with us to-morrow,' Jasper
remarked a propos of nothing. Then he returned to another subject that
was in his thoughts.

'It was by a train like that that I first went up to London. Not really
the first time; I mean when I went to live there, seven years ago.
What spirits I was in! A boy of eighteen going to live independently in
London; think of it!'

'You went straight from school?'

'I was for two years at Redmayne College after leaving Wattleborough
Grammar School. Then my father died, and I spent nearly half a year at
home. I was meant to be a teacher, but the prospect of entering a school
by no means appealed to me. A friend of mine was studying in London for
some Civil Service exam., so I declared that I would go and do the same
thing.'

'Did you succeed?'

'Not I! I never worked properly for that kind of thing. I read
voraciously, and got to know London. I might have gone to the dogs, you
know; but by when I had been in London a year a pretty clear purpose
began to form in me. Strange to think that you were growing up there all
the time. I may have passed you in the street now and then.'

Marian laughed.

'And I did at length see you at the British Museum, you know.'

They turned a corner of the road, and came full upon Marian's father,
who was walking in this direction with eyes fixed upon the ground.

'So here you are!' he exclaimed, looking at the girl, and for the moment
paying no attention to Jasper. 'I wondered whether I should meet you.'
Then, more dryly, 'How do you do, Mr Milvain?'

In a tone of easy indifference Jasper explained how he came to be
accompanying Miss Yule.

'Shall I walk on with you, father?' Marian asked, scrutinising his
rugged features.

'Just as you please; I don't know that I should hav