"Yours gratefully and affectionately,
"JOAN MEREDYTH."

There was a subdued excitement about Lady Linden during the Thursday and
the Friday, and an irritating air of secretiveness.

"Foolish, foolish young people! Both so good and so worthy in their
way--the girl beautiful and clever, the man as fine and honest and
upright a young fellow as ever trod this earth--donkeys! Perhaps they
can't be driven--very often donkeys can't; but they can be led!"

To Hugh Alston, at Hurst Dormer, seven miles away, Lady Linden had
written.

"MY DEAR HUGH,

"I want you to come here Saturday; it is a matter of vital
importance." (She had a habit of underlining her words to give
them emphasis, and she underscored "vital" three times.) "I want
you to time your arrival for half-past five, a nice time for tea.
Don't be earlier, and don't be later. And, above all, don't fail
me, or I will never forgive you."

"I expect," Hugh thought, "that she is going to make a public
announcement of the engagement between Marjorie and Tom Arundel."

It was precisely at half-past five that Hugh stepped out of his
two-seater car and demanded admittance at the door of the Manor House.

"Oh, Mr. Alston," the footman said, "my lady is expecting you. She told
me to show you straight into the drawing-room, and she and--" The man
paused.

"Her ladyship will be with you in a few moments, sir."

"There is festival in the air here, Perkins, and mystery and secrecy
too, eh?"

"Yes, sir, thank you, sir," the man said. "This way, Mr. Alston."

And now in the drawing-room Hugh was cooling his heels.

Why this mystery? Where was Marjorie? Why didn't his aunt come?

Then someone came, the door opened. Into the room stepped a tall girl--a
girl with the most beautiful face he thought he had ever seen in his
life. She looked at him calmly and casually, and seemed to hesitate; and
then behind her appeared Lady Linden, flushed, and evidently agitated.

"There," she said, "there, my dears--I have brought you together again,
and now everything must be made quite all right! Joan, darling, here is
your husband! Go to him, forgive him if there is aught to forgive. Ask
forgiveness, child, in your turn, and then--then kiss and be friends, as
husband and wife should be."

She beamed on them both, then swiftly retreated, and the door behind
Joan Meredyth quickly closed.

CHAPTER IV

FACE TO FACE

It was, Hugh Alston