Mr Werriss was seated at the marble table again, hoping for Miss Findon. He had smartened himself up a bit, changed his coat and tie, and looked quite different from the long, lank figure that had walked furtively behind the seat on the green space gathering courage to speak. There was a lurking smile about his mouth and repressed excitement in his manner.

She entered with a quick step and a triumphant set back of her shoulders, went straight up to his table, and asked if she might sit opposite.

"Why, I'd like it," he answered nervously.

Tea and scone arrived there was butter to the scone to-day-before she spoke again. "I've wonderful news," she said her voice was husky,"I know you'll be glad."

He made a queer little sound

of assent.

66

"Well, no, I never did; but I feel as if I knew the inside of your life as well as if we'd been

You won't want to go on with the French lessons now,

"I will-if you really want them; but we'll wait till Jack has has gone. I shall go to Shipton on Tuesday night and take him to Southampton on Wednesday-it's only twenty miles off." She buttered the last bit of her scone. "I wish I could do something for you," she evidently meant it.

"You could-something real

big."

"What is it?"

R

He went on quickly, afraid of a refusal. "I wouldn't come near you until just before the start. But I'd like to shake hands with him. You'll be low-spirited when he's gone. I could bring you back if- if there's no one else?"

"Oh, there's no one else." She considered for a moment before she added, "It's very kind of you, Mr Werriss. I'd like you to go, only "-she hesitated to mention it "it's such an expensive journey."

"It is a good deal," he allowed, "but I could run to it, and the sight of the sea might freshen me up."

She scanned his face. "I believe it would," she said as she rose. "Now, I'm going to see about Jack's passage. Oh, it is fine of Harvey!" She gave a long sigh of

satisfaction.

They left the shop together. "Wonder if you'd let me take you down to the shipping

office?" he asked. "You won't know the way."

She shook her head, but her voice was grateful. "I want to think it over. I'm not fit company for any one to-day. I shall take a cab," she added recklessly. "I'm going to the bank first for the money: Jack has sent me the order."

"One is best alone when there's thinking to do," he agreed. "The way into things and out of them seems easier." He hailed a taxi and put her in. "Lombard Street, Bank of" He stopped abruptly and turned to her, "Think you didn't say the bank?"

"I believe you guessed it;" she laughed as she gave the address.

"Well, one does guess things sometimes," he said and closed the door. She leant forward; the radiance on her face made it a picture, and the open window seemed to frame it.

"Mr Werriss," she said, "I think you are splendid too, and I'm so glad you're going to see Jack."

Then she whizzed off.

"A chap with too much vitality, he'll burn out if he doesn't take care," Mr Werriss thought. "I guess you are tired," he said a bit awkwardly.

"Rather," with a cough, “but it's an awful lark going to California. I've had a very fine bust-up"-Jack was evidently a slangy youth,-"typhoid and influenza take the colour out of things; I expect Winnie told you." He turned to her with, "Look here, I wish you'd go and settle up with that chap about our places at table. He's worrying about something-perhaps he wants a tip."

"Wait here," she said, "and talk to Mr Werriss; I'll see what I can do. Do make him sit still, Mr Werriss. He isn't a bit strong. Are these yours?" She nearly stumbled over a packet and roll he had put down beside the seat she had to pass.

"Why, yes, they're two books for you," he answered, artfully concealing the fact that they'd been bought for her brother; "thought you'd like to do a bit of reading going acrossand I wonder if you'd mind dropping this rug on the other side? I brought it over by a fluke and want to get it back somehow. I'll give you the address where to send it."

She looked up at him curiously. "Oh, but"

"You don't know how cold it will be; should think brother Jack here might use it. You'd better go and look after those

"She'll do it," Jack said confidently when she had gone. "She always gets things done for her."

"You didn't think to get her with you?" Mr Werriss began.

"No, but Harvey's been trying for it all the time. You see he's awfully gone on her, dead nuts, wanted to come back and fetch her. She never would-she thought he'd given up the game when he cabled for me.

"And she's given in?"

Jack coughed again. "I expect so. Harvey wrote to her; she won't show me his letter, but I expect it's all right."

"Expect it is," Mr Werriss echoed, and sat staring at the crowd; "is he going to join on at the farm with you?"

"Don't know; I thought he was, but now he thinks he can't. Winnie's got it all up her sleeve. We've not had time to talk it out yet. I had to lie low last night and telegraph her not to come. They brought me in a motor to Southampton this morning. I didn't see her till she met me on board."

"I might have brought her," Mr Werriss told himself; "luck's against me."

"Look here, I think I'll go and take some tonic stuff if you don't mind," the boy said; "this bustle goes to my head. Wait here till Winnie comes, or you might miss her."

Mr Werriss sat very still

and thought it over. She was going away to marry this cousin-he'd helped her to go. But it couldn't have been averted anyway, and the boy's life had to be saved. Besides, it was Harvey's letter that had done the business. He tried to think that he was a fool, for it was no good disguising to himself that he was in love with her - - she was the sort of girl he had always been looking for, waiting for, vaguely hoping to find; and now another chap had been before him. Right down bad luck, he called it, for there was something in her that spoke to him, recognised him, and said that given a fair field he would have had a chance. "And with that little hand on my arm, and that little face looking up, why I'd tramp from here to Jericho, carrying her over the rough places, and think it a holiday march. Another chap's before me. Jefferson Werriss, you're done, you're done!"

Then she came, and he pulled himself together. "I've made Jack lie down for ten minutes," she said. "The confusion on deck is too much for him. I'm thankful to be going-he needs someone."

"Guess you are, and for more reasons than one, I understand."

She looked up. "Think I am to congratulate you?"

"Congratulate me?" "Understand you and Mr Harvey are going to be married. He's a lucky man."

"It's not true," she said

quietly.

"Jack told you, of course, but he knows nothing about it."

"You mean to sayvoice shook.

the

"That's why I didn't want to go-to take Harvey's money for myself. I was so pleased when he cabled only for Jack, I thought they would be on the farm together. But his letter has made it all right."

"How is it right? Hasn't he been wanting to marry you all along?"

"Yes," she answered simply, "but I didn't want him-he's very kind, but I never wanted him.

And now he's married someone else, he told me in his letter. But it has to be kept a secret for a bit; he said I wasn't to tell Jack, for Jack always tells everything. That's why he wanted me to go out,

he couldn't look after Jack now. You mustn't tell him."

"Not me," said Mr Werriss joyfully. He made another plunge-he seemed to do it in a dream. "Look here, there isn't much time to say what I've got to say, but I can't risk leaving it-" he stopped. "Well-we're friends, aren't we?-do you feel like that at all?"

"Yes, I do."

"I said to myself yesterday that I'd give the earth to see you again, I'd give it ten times over rather than not see you again: one fine day I shall be walking up to the door of that honey-farm."

The whole horizon seemed to clear for her too. "I should love it," she answered.

"Say it again," he took her