uite right," she admitted. "All the same, you are rather an
inconsiderate guest, aren't you, to leave me here alone in this swamp?"

"Come, too?" he suggested. "I'll motor you up."

"Thanks," she replied, "I will."

He was a little taken aback, but, after all, it was perhaps the simplest
way out of his difficulties.

"I'll take you, with pleasure, if you don't mind being drenched."

"I can stand physical discomforts," she said. "It's the other sort of
knocks that bruise."

"It won't be so bad," he continued, ignoring her last speech, "if you
wear a mackintosh and something thick for your head. Shouldn't wonder if
it cleared up presently."

Lady Hilda smiled.

"I have been out in a shower in Patagonia," she reminded him, "which
lasted for three weeks. Will it suit you to start in half an hour?"

"Any time you like," he agreed.

She had changed her position a little, and he was forced to look at her.

"Mr. Strangewey," she said, "I want to ask you a question. Are you going
to marry Louise Maurel?"

"I am," he replied, without hesitation; "at least, I hope to do so."

She looked at him for a moment with a strange expression. Then she rose
to her feet. Her lips were quivering. She leaned against the
mantelpiece, with her forehead upon her arms. At first he imagined that
she was going to weep; then, to his horror, he found that she was
laughing--half-hysterically, perhaps, but still laughing. He drew a step
nearer to her, but she waved him away.

"Sit down!" she gasped. "Oh, if I might tell this to Henri Graillot!
What a play! What humor! My friend John Strangewey, I congratulate you!
You have created a new situation in life. Leave me alone, please!"

She bent forward until her face was completely hidden. Her body was
shaken. Once or twice he fancied that her laughter had turned to sobs.
When at last she looked up, however, there were the remains of an almost
devilish mirth on her lips. She rang the bell.

"That is for my maid," she said. "I am now going to change my clothes
and let you motor me up to London. I shall get some fresh air, at any
rate, and your car always fills me with longing. Amuse yourself, won't
you? I shall be an hour getting ready, and I will order an early tea."

"You wouldn't care to tell me, I suppose," he asked, "what is the new
situation in life which you say I have created?"

She turned to him from the door. She was really a very handsome woman.
Her lips were most expressive.