? I should like to shoot him!" said Rivington.

At which she laughed again, and then threw a guilty glance around.

"I don't think this is a very good place for a talk."

"Not if you want to do much laughing," said Rivington. "Come along to
the tea-shop round the corner. No one will disturb us there."

They turned side by side, and began to walk back. The girl moved quickly
as though not wholly at her ease. She glanced at her companion once or
twice, but it was not till they finally emerged at the head of the steps
that she spoke.

"I am wondering more and more how I ever had the impertinence to do it."

"There's no great risk in asking a poor relation to do anything," said
Rivington consolingly.

"Ah, but I did it without asking." There was an unmistakable note of
distress in her quick rejoinder. "I was at my wits' end. I didn't know
what on earth to do. And it came to me suddenly like an inspiration. But
I wish I hadn't now, with all my heart."

Rivington turned his mild eyes upon her.

"My dear child, don't be silly!" he said. "I am delighted to be of use
for a change. I don't do much worth the doing, being more or less of a
loafer. It is good for me to exercise my ingenuity now and then. It only
gets rusty lying by."

She put out her hand impulsively and squeezed his.

"You're awfully nice to me," she said. "It's only a temporary expedient,
of course. I couldn't ask you first--there wasn't time. But I'll set you
free as soon as I possibly can. Have people been talking much?"

"Rather! They are enjoying it immensely. I have had to go ahead like
steam. I've even engaged a best man."

She threw him a startled look.

"Oh, but----"

"No, don't be alarmed," he said reassuringly. "It's best to take the
bull by the horns, believe me. The more fuss you make at the outset, the
quicker it will be over. People will be taking us for granted in a
week."

"You think so?" she said doubtfully. "I can't think what mother will
say. I don't dare think."

"Is your mother away, then?"

"Yes, in Paris for a few days. I couldn't have done it if she had been
at home. I don't know quite what I should have done." She broke off with
a sudden shudder. "I've had a horrid fright," she said again.

"Come and have some tea," suggested Rivington practically.

IV

A COUNCIL OF WAR

They had tea in a secluded corner, well removed from all prying eyes.
Gradually, as the minutes passed, the girl's manner became more a