r? It was utterly impossible that she should have
met him before, at all events on the intimate footing the familiarity of
his face suggested. It must be merely an extraordinary likeness to
someone to whom she could not at the moment put a name. Quite suddenly
she realized that they were scrutinizing each other in a way that
certainly cannot be termed exactly orthodox. She pulled herself
together.

"Thank you for restoring my glove," said she with a fine resumption of
dignity; and she turned off once more down the drive.

Antony went slowly back to his shears.

CHAPTER XXIV

AN INTEREST IN LIFE

Doctor Hilary was walking down the lane in a somewhat preoccupied frame
of mind. He had been oddly preoccupied the last day or so, lapsing into
prolonged meditations from which he would emerge with a sudden and almost
guilty start.

Coming opposite the drive gates of Chorley Old Hall, he was brought to a
sense of his surroundings by a figure, which emerged suddenly from them
and came to a dead stop.

"Oh!" ejaculated Doctor Hilary. "Good afternoon." And he took off his
cap.

"Good afternoon," responded Trix. She turned along the lane beside him.

"Have you been interviewing the gardens?" he asked. She fancied there was
the faintest trace of anxiety in his voice.

A sudden spirit of mischief took possession of Trix. She had been given
leave. It was really too good an opportunity to be lost.

"Oh no," she responded, dove-like innocence in her voice, "I've just been
having tea with Mr. Danver."

If she wanted to see amazement written on his face, she had her desire.
It spread itself large over his countenance, finding verbal expression in
an utterly astounded gasp.

"He seems very well," said Trix demurely.

"Miss Devereux!" ejaculated Doctor Hilary.

"Yes?" asked Trix sweetly.

"Have you known all the time?" he demanded.

Trix shook her head, laughter dancing in her eyes. It found its way to
her lips.

"Oh, you looked so surprised," she gurgled. "I hadn't the tiniest bit of
an idea. How could I? I was never so flummuxed in all my life as when I
realized who was talking to me."

Doctor Hilary was silent.

Trix put her hand on his arm, half timidly.

"Don't be angry," she said. "He wasn't. And I've promised faithfully not
to tell."

Doctor Hilary glanced down at the hand on his arm.

"I'm not angry," he said with a queer smile, "I'm only--" He stopped.

"Flummuxed, like I was," nodded Trix, r