"You are just in time," she said, looking up at him, and he looked back

at her rather vacantly; for Ida had been in his arms too recently, for

his mind, his whole being, to be sufficiently clear of her to permit

him to take any interest in anything else "for tea," she said. "Here it

comes. Shall I pour it out for you? Have you been riding far?"

"Not very far," he said. "You have been riding, too. Is it a wonder we

did not meet."

"Yes," she assented, languidly. "I met no one, saw no one, while I was

out. Here comes your shadow," she added, as Tiny, having heard his

beloved master's voice, came helter-skelter, head over heels, and leapt

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on Stafford's lap. "How fond he is of you."

Stafford nodded.

"Yes; I'm jolly glad no one answered the advertisement for its owner."

She bent over and stroked the terrier, who always seemed uneasy under

her caress, and her hand touched Stafford's. She glanced at him as it

did so, but the white hand so soft and warm might have been a piece of

senseless wood for all its effect upon him whose soul was still

thrilling with Ida Heron's touch; and with a tightening of the lips,

she took her hand away and leant back, but her eyes still clung to him,

as, all unconscious, he bent over the dog.

At that moment a carriage drove up, and Mr. Falconer alighted. He came

up the steps, his heavy face grave and yet alert; and his keen eyes

glanced at the pair as they sat side by side. Stafford looked up and

nodded.

"Glad to see you back, Mr. Falconer," he said, pleasantly. "Stands

London where it did?"

"Pretty much so, yes," responded Mr. Falconer, grimly. "Yes, plenty of

other thing change, have their day and cease to be, but the little

village keeps its end up and sees things--and men--come and go, flare

up, flicker and fizzle out. No, thanks; I'll have some tea in my room."

"And like a dutiful daughter, I will go and pour it out for him," said

Maude.

She rose--Tiny rose also, and barked at her--followed her father to his

room and stood watching him as he took off his frock-coat--he had no

valet--and slowly put on a loose jacket.

"Well?" she said, at last.

He sank into a chair and looked up at her with a sardonic smile on his

face.




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