hat, and the girl
beside him got up also.

Slowly Selwyn turned to me, in his eyes rebellious protest. "It is
Mr. and Mrs. Cressy, and there's no way of getting rid of them.
They've motored over instead of waiting for the train. Have they no
sense, no understanding?"

"And they think they've been so considerate in hurrying to us!" The
tone of my voice was that of Selwyn's. "Is there nothing we can do?"

"Nothing--unless we tell them to wait here while we go over to
Shelby. The reward of virtue was never to my taste! Our one day
together--"

He turned away, but quickly I followed him; in his hand slipped mine.
"I'm sorry, Selwyn--but there will be another day--be many days."

CHAPTER XXVI

Many undeserved blessings have come to me in life and have made me
temporarily meek and humble, but when punishments come which are
unwarranted, meekness and humility (of which I have never possessed a
sufficient amount, inasmuch as I am a person without money)
disappear, and I am not a lowly-minded lady. I was punished for my
part in helping Tom and Madeleine get married by action of Mrs. Swink
that was as astounding as it was unexpected. Mrs. Swink is a wily
woman. She has little education and large understanding of human
nature. She knows when she is beaten. In a woman such knowledge is
unusual.

The day after our return from Claxon she appeared in my sitting-room
in Scarborough Square and, throwing her arms around me, kissed me
three times. She attempted a fourth kiss, which I prevented, and
followed the kisses with an outburst of tears that was proportionate
to her person in volume and abundance. Feeling as one does who is
overtaken by a shower when the sun is shining, I made effort to draw
away, but my head was again pressed on her broad bosom, and with
fresh tears I was thanked for my kindness in chaperoning her daughter
on her matrimonial adventure; an adventure which would have subjected
her to much criticism had I not been along. Also Mr. Thorne. The
unexpectedness of these thanks was disconcerting and, with an
expression that was hardly appreciative of the pose she was assuming,
I finally rescued myself from her arms and, drawing off, looked at
her for explanation. Mrs. Swink is not a person I care to have kiss
me.

"Oh, my dear, you do not know the anguish of a mother's heart! You
couldn't know it unless you were a mother, and when you are one I
hope your heart won't be wrung as mine has b