g cardboard box that had
arrived from Dublin the day before, containing the new grey dress in
which she was to be married, roused her to the significance of the
hour. With a swift movement she rose, and crossed the room to the
window.

The view across the bay was neutral and calm. Over the sea to the east
a pale and silvery sun was emerging from a film of mist; while on the
water itself a white, almost spiritual radiance lay like a mystic veil.
Clodagh took one long, comprehensive glance at the familiar scene;
then, as if afraid to trust herself too far, she turned away quickly
and began to dress with noiseless haste.

Twenty minutes later, she crept downstairs arrayed in her old black
riding-habit.

Where she rode on that morning of her marriage; what strange and
speculative thoughts burned in her brain; and what secrets--regretful
or anticipatory--she whispered into Polly's sensitive ears, no one ever
knew! At half-past eight she re-entered the stable-yard, slipped from
the saddle unaided, and threw the mare's bridle to Burke.

For a full minute she stood with her gloved hand upon the neck of the
animal that had carried her so often and so well; then, with a sudden,
almost furtive movement, she bent forward and pressed her face against
the cropped mane.

"Take care of her, Tim!" she said unsteadily--"take care of her! I'll
come back some day, you know."

And without looking at the old man, she turned and walked out of the
yard.

She met no one on her way to the house; but as she passed across the
hall, she was suddenly arrested by the sight of Milbanke descending the
stairs, already arrayed in a conventional frock-coat.

Unconsciously she paused. From the first she had vaguely understood
that he would discard his usual serge suit on the day of the wedding;
but the actual sight of these unfamiliar clothes came as a shock,
bringing home to her the imminence of the great event as nothing else
could possibly have done. He looked unusually old, thin, and precise in
the stiff, well-cut garments--a circumstance that was unkindly enhanced
by the fact that he was palpably and uncontrollably nervous.

There was a moment of embarrassed silence. Then, mastering her
emotions, Clodagh advanced to the foot of the stairs, holding out her
hand.

He responded to the gesture with something like gratitude.

"You have been out early," he said hurriedly. "Have you been taking a
last look round?"

Clodagh nodded and turned