As happy as Derrick, Celia hurried back to the Hall. So suddenly had

come her happiness, so swiftly and unexpectedly had her life been

suffused by joy, that she was dazzled and bewildered, as one is dazzled

and bewildered by the bursting of the midday sunlight through a bank of

clouds. It seemed almost impossible to realise that he was back in

England, near at hand, that he loved her, that he had held her in his

arms; but the warmth of his kisses still lingered on her lips and helped

her unbelief.

As she entered the hall, Heyton sauntered out of the smoking-room; the

eternal cigarette was between his thick lips, his hands were thrust in

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his pockets; the smile, which Celia so much disliked, greeted her

appearance, and his eyes roved over her with, the expression which

always raised Celia's resentment.

"Hallo!" he exclaimed, with an offensive familiarity. "Been for a walk?

By Jove! you look ripping, Miss Grant! Been enjoying yourself, to judge

by the look of you! I wish you would let me come with you; I might have

enjoyed myself too. I'm pretty well bored stiff; there's nothing to do

here, and the old place is dull as ditch-water; gives me the horrors.

But I say, you'll be late for dinner. Hurry up and come and dine with

us, won't you?"

"Thank you, Lord Heyton," said Celia, "but I dine alone in my own little

room."

"What nonsense that is!" he said, impatiently. "Here, Miriam"--turning

to his wife, as she came languidly down the stairs--"just tell Miss

Grant that she's got to dine with us to-night; she'll keep us from going

to sleep."

"Won't you?" asked Miriam, listlessly. "I wish you would; I'm sure Lord

Sutcombe would like you to."

"Thank you very much," said Celia, as she passed on; "but I would rather

dine alone. I've a great deal to do to-night and must not waste time

over dinner."

"Oh, look here----!" began Heyton; but at the moment the butler advanced

with a telegram. Heyton took it and looked at it, and his manner changed

instantly. He stared at the telegram; his face growing pale, his teeth

closing hard on the cigarette.

"What is it, Percy?" asked Miriam, as Celia passed into the library.

"Eh?" he said, with a start, as if waking up. "Oh, nothing! Yes, it is;

it's dam bad news, I can tell you."

"Money again!" she said, with an impatient shrug of her shoulders.




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