st time in her life let herself forget real values.

But Joyce was too cool a hand to waste time in repining so long as there
was a chance to repair the damage. Was the lost prize beyond recovery?
Two points were in her favor. Verinder had not yet gone, and he was very
much infatuated with her. No doubt his vanity was in arms. He would be
shy of any advances. His intention was to beat a retreat in sulky
dignity, and he would not respond to any of the signals which in the
past had always brought him to heel. It all rested on the fortuity of
her getting five minutes alone with him. Granted this, she would have a
chance. There are ways given to women whereby men of his type can be
placated. She would have to flatter him by abasing herself, by throwing
herself upon his mercy. But since this must be done, she was prepared to
pay the price.

It appeared that Dobyans Verinder did not intend to give her an
opportunity. From the soup to the walnuts the topic of conversation had
to do with the impending departure of the mine owner. Joyce was prepared
to be very kind to him, but he did not for an instant let his eyes dwell
in hers. Behind the curtain of her dark silken lashes she was alertly
conscious of the man without appearing to be so. He meant to snub her,
to leave without seeing her alone. That was to be her punishment for
having cut too deep into his self-esteem. He was going to jilt her.

During dinner and during that subsequent half hour while the ladies
waited for the men to rejoin them, Joyce was in a tremor of anxiety. But
she carried herself with an indifference that was superb. She had taken
a chair at the far end of the long parlor close to a French window
opening upon a porch. Apparently she was idly interested in a new novel,
but never had she been more watchful. If she had a chance to play her
hand she would win; if the luck broke against her she would lose.

Most of her friends had mothers to maneuver for them. Joyce had none,
but she was not one to let that stand in her way. Already she had made
her first move by asking Lord Farquhar in a whisper not to linger long
over the cigars. He had nodded silently, and she knew he would keep his
word. If Jack would only stay away until she could see Verinder....

She called the mine owner to her the instant that the men reappeared. He
looked across the room sullenly and appeared for one dubious moment to
hesitate. But before he could frame an excuse she had spoken aga