Falconer took it and put his lips to it. The sight broke the spell that

held Drake, and, with a muttered oath, he turned and walked away quickly

through the wood toward the house.

The first dinner bell was ringing as he entered the hall. Most of the

guests had gone up to dress, but one or two still lingered in the hall,

and among them Lady Angleford and Lady Luce. The former came to meet him

as he entered.

"Why, where have you been, Drake?" she said, with the little maternal

manner with which she always addressed him.

Lady Luce was lounging in a chair, playing with a grayhound, and she

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looked up at him with a smile, then lowered her eyes, as if she were

afraid their welcome should be too marked.

"I've been for a walk," he said. His face was flushed, his eyes

bright--too bright--with suppressed emotion. "I've been lunching at the

Styles' farm----"

"That's a long way! Aren't you tired? Will you have some tea? I'll get

some made in a moment or two. Do!"

"No, no; thanks!" he said, as he pitched his cap on the stand. "It's too

late."

As he spoke he went up to Lady Luce and looked down at her, his face

still flushed, his eyes still unnaturally bright.

"What have you been doing with yourself, Luce?" he asked.

She glanced up at him for a moment, then lowered her eyes and drew the

dog's sleek head close to her.

"I don't know," she said, with a slight shrug of the shoulders.

"Nothing, I think. It has been an awfully long day."

"Luce has been bored to death, and--for once--has admitted it," said

Lady Angleford, laughing. "Her yawns and sighs have been too awful for

words."

He stood and looked down at her. She was perfectly dressed, and looked

like a girl in the light frock, with its plain blouse and neat sailor

knot. At any rate, if he married her he would have a beautiful wife;

and that was something. That she loved him, was still more.

Now that he knew Nell had forgotten him, there was no reason why he

should hesitate.

He bent lower, and his hand fell on the dog's head and touched hers.

"Luce!" he said.

She looked up, saw that the words she had been longing for were

trembling on his lips, and her face grew pale.

"Luce, I want to speak to you," he said, in a low voice. Lady Angleford

had gone to a table to collect her work; there was no one within

hearing. "I want to ask you----"