lour slowly fading from her
cheeks.

And Hugh stood silent, dumbfounded, astonishment clearly shown on his
face.

CHAPTER XII

"I TAKE NOT ONE WORD BACK"

"I will do you the justice, Mr. Alston, to believe that you did not
anticipate this meeting?"

"You will only be doing me justice if you do not believe it," Hugh said.

The girl bent her proud head. "I did not know that you were a friend of
General Bartholomew's?"

"Nor I till to-day, Miss Meredyth."

"I don't understand."

Hugh explained that he had not seen the General since he was a child,
till the General had unearthed him at the Northborough Hotel that
afternoon.

Joan frowned. Why had the General done that? Why had he, not three
minutes ago, patted her on the shoulder, smiled on her, and told her to
run down and wait for him in the drawing-room? Suddenly her face burned
with a glowing colour. It seemed as if all the world were in league
together against her. But this time this man was surely innocent. She
had seen the look of astonishment on his face, and knew it for no
acting.

"I came here yesterday," she said quietly, "in response to a warm
invitation from the General, who was my father's friend."

"My father's too!"

"I--I wanted a home, a friend, and I accepted his invitation eagerly,
but since you have come--"

"My presence makes this house impossible for you, of course," Hugh said,
and his voice was bitter. "Listen to me, I may never have an opportunity
of speaking to you again, Joan." He used her Christian name, scarcely
realising that he did so.

"You feel bitterly towards me, and with reason. You have made up your
mind that I have deliberately annoyed and insulted you. If you ask me to
explain what I did and why I did it, I cannot do so. I have a reason.
One day, if I am permitted, I shall be glad to tell you everything. I
came here to London like a fool, a senseless, egotistical fool, thinking
I should be doing a fine thing, and could put everything right by asking
you to become my wife in reality. I can see now what sort of a figure I
made of myself, and how I must have appeared to you when I was bragging
of my possessions. I suppose I lack a sense of humour, Joan, or there's
something wrong with me somewhere. Believe me, senseless and crude as it
all was, my intentions were good. I only succeeded in sinking a little
lower, if possible, in your estimation, and now I wish to ask your
pardon for it."

"I am glad," she sa