t I ask you to go there with me," says
Dysart, the innate honesty that distinguishes him compelling him to lay
bare to her his secret meaning. "I have something to say to you. You
will listen?"

"Why should I not?" returns she, a little pale. He might, perhaps, have
said something further, but that now the footsteps sound close at hand.
A glance towards the door that leads from the fragrant night into the
still more perfumed air within reveals to them two figures.

Mr. Beauclerk and Miss Maliphant come leisurely forward. The blood
receding to Joyce's heart leaves her cold and singularly calm.

CHAPTER XVI.

"Out of the day and night
A joy has taken flight."

"Life, I know not what thou art."

"You two," cries Miss Maliphant pleasantly, in her loud, good-natured
voice. She addresses them as though it has been borne in upon her by
constant reminding that Joyce and Dysart are for the best of all reasons
generally to be found together. There is something not only genial, but
sympathetic in her tones, something that embarrasses Dysart, and angers
Joyce to the last degree. "Well, I'm glad to have met you for one moment
out of the hurly-burly," goes on the massive heiress to Joyce, with the
friendliest of smiles. "I'm off at cock-crow, you know, and so mightn't
have had the opportunity of saying good-bye to you, but for this
fortunate meeting."

"To-morrow?" says Joyce, more with the manner of one who feels she must
say something than from any desire to say it.

"Yes, and so early that I shall not have it in my power to bid farewell
to any one. Unless, indeed," with a glance at Beauclerk, meant, perhaps,
to be coquettish, but so elephantine in its proportions as to be almost
anything in the world but that, "some of my friends may wish to see the
sun rise."

"We shall miss you," says Joyce, gracefully, though with an effort.

"Just what I've been saying," breaks in Beauclerk at this juncture, who
hitherto has been looking on, with an altogether delightful smile upon
his handsome face. "We shall all miss Miss Maliphant. It is not often
that one meets with an entirely genial companion. My sister is to be
congratulated on securing such an acquisition, if only for a short
time."

Joyce, lifting her eyes, stares straight at him. "For a short time!"
What does that mean? If Miss Maliphant is to be Lady Baltimore's
sister-in-law, she will undoubtedly secure her for a lifetime!

"Oh, you are too good,