Woman-like, she was quick to notice the change in him, and her heart

beat high with hope.

"He will love me yet," she whispered to herself triumphantly, as, with

outward calmness, she bade him au revoir till they should meet at

dinner.

Adrien went straight to his own rooms. An unusual restlessness was upon

him, and his pulses throbbed wildly, but as yet he did not understand

what these things meant. He, who had played the lover so lightly all his

life, did not realise that it was now his turn to feel Cupid's dart, and

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that he was becoming as deeply enamoured of his pretty cousin as any raw

boy straight from college.

As he paced up and down his luxurious study, thoughtfully smoking a

cigar, his past life rose before him, with all its idleness and wasted

years. He knew that with most women he had only to throw down the glove

for it to be snatched up eagerly; women had loved him, petted and spoilt

him ever since he could remember. But here was one who thought of him as

nothing but a means to save her people--or, rather, his people---from

distress. It said much for Lady Constance's powers of reserve that she

had impressed him thus, and had she known it, nothing could have helped

her cause more.

Throwing himself into a chair, the young man reviewed again the

incidents of their ride. How beautiful she had looked; how pointedly and

yet gently she had reproved him for his long absences from his estates

and the people who loved him. Well, it should come to an end now, and

there and then he formed a resolve to return to town directly after the

race, and go through his affairs with Jasper. His friend would help him

to lead a worthier and more useful life, he thought--if any one could do

so.

When he went down to dinner that night few would have noticed any

difference in his calm face and demeanour; none, indeed, save Lady

Constance herself, who, with the subtlety which seems inbred in even the

best of her sex, devoted her attention almost exclusively to Mr. Jasper

Vermont. It was he who was allowed to sit next her at dinner; it was to

him she turned when the race, with which all present were concerned, was

the subject under discussion.

Adrien noted all this, and his heart grew heavy within him. But he did

not grudge Jasper her favour--as yet; he blamed himself too deeply for

the neglect of his past opportunities.

Jasper skilfully turned the conversation to Lady Merivale's ball, which

he described in detail to Lady Constance; adding many little realistic

touches concerning the fair hostess and Adrien, till he had convinced

her--as he thought--that there was a great deal more between them than

was really the case. For Vermont, as had been said before, was "no

fool"; and he realised only too well in what direction events were

tending with Lady Constance and her cousin.




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