"Who is that riding up the hill?" she said, controlling her voice

admirably. "It is Miss Heron, is it not?"

"Yes, it is," he said, as impassively as he could.

Her lips curled scornfully at his assumption of indifference. "I have

seen her and met her," she said, "but I have not been introduced to

her. Let us overtake her, and you can introduce me. I should like to

know her."

He looked straight before him, his face grave and set.

"Is it worth while?" he said in a low voice. "Some other time--"

"Why not now?" she asked. "We can catch her quite easily."

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The moment had come for him to tell her.

"Not now," he said, huskily. "I have something to tell you, Maude;

something you ought to know before--before you make Miss Heron's

acquaintance."

She turned to him with a low laugh.

"Do you think I don't know?" she said, between her teeth. "I have know

all along! I read the letter you wrote to her--I got it--stole it, if

you like--from Pottinger. I have known all along--do you not think I

have been very patient, very discreet? Even now I bear no malice. I can

forget the past, forget and forgive. Why should I not, seeing that I am

assured of your love and good faith? You will see how completely I

forget, how little importance I attach to your fancy for the girl; a

fancy which I am sure you have quite outgrown. Oh, I can trust you! We

will join Miss Heron by all means."

His face was dark and heavy.

"Do not, Maude, until you've heard all," he began, but with a scornful

laugh that yet had something doubting and desperate in it, she sent

Adonis on. He sprang forward nervously and shivering under a stroke

from her whip, and swiftly lessened the distance between him and

Rupert, who heard his approach before Ida did, and who neighed a

welcome. Ida turned and saw who was following her, saw Stafford just

behind, and gathering her reins together she rode Rupert quickly to the

top of the hill.

"Miss Heron!" cried Maude, in a voice of covert insolence, but almost

open triumph. "Miss Heron, stop, please!"

Ida did stop for a moment, then, feeling that it was impossible for her

to meet them, that day, at any rate, she let Rupert go again. By this

time, Stafford had almost gained Maude's side. His face was dark with

anger, his teeth clenched tightly. He knew that Maude intended to

flaunt her possession of him before Ida. In a low but perfectly

distinct voice, he said: "Stop, Maude! Do not follow her." She looked over her shoulder at him,

her face flushed, her eyes flashing.




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