than the slightlyheightened colour on his cousin's face, as he turned to reply.
"Well," he began, "I did mean to ask two or three people down, but itrather went out of my head. I've only been here for a week, and I'vebeen pretty busy looking after the Headforts. They are at PaldenGrange; did you know? It's very rough, of course. They are getting itinto order, so it was only common humanity to ask them to come over hereas much as they liked."
"Oh, indeed," said Michael. "Duke Headfort and his wife, of course, youmean?"
"Ye-es," Bernard resumed, "and--her sister. She is helping her."
Michael said nothing. Bernard wished he would speak, but as he gave nosigns of breaking the silence, Mr Gresham began again.
"You remember," he said, with as near an approach to awkwardness as waspossible for him, "our conversation that evening some weeks ago?"
"Yes," Michael replied, "I remember it."
"I have heard nothing more," said Bernard. "I have not come acrossthose people again; the Worthings, I mean. And--well, I think I've madeup my mind to risk it; to go through with it. Fate seems leading up toit somehow. I was by no means sure that she was here when I came down,though it did occur to me as possible that she might be with her sister,and--I have seen a great deal of her these last few days. I cannotassociate her with any unladylike escapade of the kind that was hintedat I cannot believe that there is really any risk to run. There musthave been some absurd mistake."
"And," said Michael, "you have no misgivings as--as to her reciprocatingyour--" He hesitated.
Bernard smiled.
"In ordinary cases that would hardly be a fair question," he said, "butas I have given you my full confidence so far, I think I may allow thatthat part of it appears to be all right."
Michael got up from his seat, and strolled across to the fireplace.There, leaning against the mantelpiece, he calmly surveyed his cousin."Then," he said, "I may almost congratulate you at once? You willdoubtless allow me to do so formally as soon as possible?"
"Certainly," Bernard replied. "You shall be the very first to hear ofit."
"And you intend to leave that piece of gossip at rest then?" saidMichael, after a moment's silence.
A shadow crossed Mr Gresham's face.
"What else can I do?" he inquired.
"Nothing," Michael replied. "Most certainly nothing; but granting thatshe is all that I feel sure she must be, if there is any truth in thestory, anything that a man could dislike his wife having been mixed upin, there is _her_ point of view to be considered. _She_ will not letit rest."
"How do you mean?" said Bernard, raising his eyebrows.
"She will tell you about it herself, of course," said Michael, curtly.
Bernard seemed considerably discomposed.
"You had better be prepared for the possibility," Michael continued."There is generally some root for gossip, however exaggerated. I adviseyou to face this for both your sakes."
"You certainly are a Job's comforter if ever there was one," said hiscousin, in a tone of annoyance. "Do you mean to say that I should makefurther inquiry, or give her an opportunity of explaining it before Icommit myself? It would be so awkward, you see. I scarcely--"
"Good heavens! no," said Michael, with angry contempt. "Would I suggestyour insulting a woman? I am only forewarning you that if there isanything that requires explanation _she_ will volunteer it, and on thisaccount you had better be sure of your own mind, or you may findyourself in a _very_ awkward position, to put it mildly."
Mr Gresham's perceptions were not of the order to detect the covertsarcasm of the last few words.
"I see," he replied, consideringly. "Thank you for the suggestion. Itcan do no harm to be prepared. But I flatter myself if any one cansteer their way through a tangle of the kind, _I_ can do so. Thanks,Michael, all the same," and with his serenity quite restored, he got upfrom the breakfast-table.
The expression of Michael's face when he found himself alone grew hardand dark.
"What evil genius," he said to himself, "brought me down here at thiscrisis? I wish I were at the antipodes! I almost think I shall go backto town at once, but--it is just possible that, mixed up as I am in thisaffair, I may be of use to her. Heaven knows what is going to come ofit all! That unlucky secret of hers, and Bernard's smallness ofcharacter! Will she be disillusioned? or does he really care enough forher to rise above himself? And will she perhaps spend the rest of herlife in worshipping an ideal and never find out her mistake? Suchthings have been with such a woman." He sighed and turned away from thewindow where he had been standing.
"No," he said, "I'll stay and see it out."
That same afternoon, when writing in the room which at Merle was alwaysconsidered his own, Michael heard through the open window the sound ofvoices on the terrace below. One he recognised immediately as belongingto Mrs Marmaduke Headfort, then a man's voice, which he supposed to bethat of her husband; Michael had never met Captain Headfort. Himself ofcourse unobserved, he approached the window. Yes, there was a thirdvisitor. It was the first time he had seen Miss Raynsworth in her owncharacter, and suddenly there flashed upon him the full strangeness ofthe position.
"I shall have to be introduced to her," he thought. "Will little MrsHeadfort be equal to it? She knows at least that her sister and I weretravelling companions, even if she has been told no more as to my partin it. And how will the girl herself stand it? I know how essentiallycandid she must be. I must do my best to make it as little awkward aspossible. They have come over to tea, no doubt; I will keep out of theway till we meet in the drawing-room."
A moment or two later his cousin put his head in at the door.
"The Headforts are here, Michael," he said. "We are going through thewoods to the old fish-ponds; do you care to come or not?"
Michael shook his head.
"I am not quite ready," he said; "you'll be back to tea, I suppose? Youcan introduce me to your friends then. To Miss Raynsworth and Headfort,I mean--Mrs Headfort of course I know."
Bernard Gresham scarcely stayed to hear his reply.
"All right," he said. "They're waiting for me," and he shut the door.
Half-way to the fish-ponds, Evelyn's strength showed signs of givingout.
"Duke," she said, plaintively, "if I go much farther you will have tocarry me back. You forget that we walked here from Palden!"
Duke looked intensely penitent.
"Of course," he said; "why didn't you say so before, Evey, when Greshamproposed it?"
"I didn't know how far it was," she replied. "Is it _much_ farther, MrGresham?"
Bernard hesitated.
"I am extremely sorry, Mrs Headfort," he said. "I'm afraid I must ownwe haven't come half-way. But of course if it is too much for you wehad better give it up."
"Oh, dear, no," said Evelyn, quickly. "That would vex me dreadfully.It is such a lovely day. You three go on, and I'll easily find my wayback to Merle, and wait on the terrace for you. I shall enjoy thequiet, and it would be a shame to stay indoors on such a perfectafternoon."
"Nonsense," said Duke. "Of course I'll take you back, and then I'llstroll this way again and meet you and Philippa on your return," headded to Mr Gresham.
Philippa opened her lips as if about to remonstrate, but before she hadtime to speak Bernard broke in.
"Don't say you are tired too, Miss Raynsworth. I had set my heart onshowing you the fish-ponds. The woods there are in perfection at thistime of year."
"I am not tired," said Philippa, quietly. "Perhaps it is the best thingto do. Be sure you rest well, Evey, for there's the walk home toconsider."
"Oh, no, you must let me send you back, of course," said Mr Gresham."_Au revoir_, then," and the quartet separated.
Philippa and her host walked on some little way in silence. Both,though neither fully realised it for the other, were making up theirminds to a decided step. For the last few days had made the girlresolve that if circumstances combined to render he
r doing so possible,she would tell Mr Gresham the facts of the travesty she had since sobitterly regretted. And if anything had been wanting to confirm her inthis decision, Michael Gresham's arrival would have done so.
But the task before her was far from an easy one. Independently of herown not unnatural shrinking from the subject, there was the terror lestin volunteering this confidence she should appear prematurely to takefor granted any special interest in her affairs on the part of hercompanion; any right, so
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