e and put right.

"Idle women," said her ladyship, "are my abomination. How a woman can
moon about and do nothing is more than I can understand. Look at me, am
I not always busy? From early morning to dewy eve I--Curtis!"

"Yes, my lady?"

"Come here at once," said her ladyship. "I have dug up a worm. I dislike
worms. Carry the creature away; don't hurt it, Curtis. I dislike cruelty
even to worms. Ugh! How you can touch the thing!"

Curtis, under-gardener, trudged away with a large healthy worm dangling
from thumb and forefinger, a sheepish grin on his face.

"Those creatures have none of the finer feelings," thought her ladyship.
"Yet we are all brothers and sisters according to the Bible. I don't
agree with that at all. Curtis, come back; there is another worm."

Marjorie stood at the window, watching her aunt's operations, yet seeing
none of them. Her face was set and white and resolute, the soft round
chin seemed to be jutting out more obstinately than usual.

For Marjorie had made up her mind definitely, and she knew that she was
about to hurt herself and to hurt someone else.

But it must be. It was only fair, it was only just. Silence, she
believed, would be wicked.

The door behind her opened, and Tom Arundel came into the room. He was
fresh from the stable, and smelled of straw.

"Why, darling, is there anything up? I got your note asking me to come
here at once. Joe gave it to me just as we were going to take out the
brute Lady Linden has bought. Of all the vicious beasts! I wish to
goodness she wouldn't buy a horse without a proper opinion, but it is
useless talking to her. She said she liked the white star on its
forehead--white star! black devil, I call it! But I'll break him in if I
break my neck--doing it. But--I am sorry. You want me?"

"I want to speak to you."

"Then you might turn and look at a chap, Marjorie."

"I--I prefer to--to look out through the window," she said in a stifled
voice.

Standing in the room he beheld her, slim and graceful, dark against the
light patch of the window, her back obstinately turned to him; looking
at her, there came a great and deep tenderness into his face, the light
of a very honest and intense love.

"Tell me, sweetheart, then," he said--"tell me in your own way, what is
it? Nothing very serious, is it?" There was a suggestion of laughter in
his voice.

"It is very serious, Tom."

"Yes?"

"It--it concerns you--me and you--our future."

"Yes