I must have got tired walking in the wood in the heat. Ask Auntie to kindly see Mr. Everard in the blue drawing- room till I come down. I must tidy my hair; but I will be down in a few minutes.’

‘Shall I send Marjorie to you, miss?’

‘No! Don’t mind; I can do what I want myself. Hurry down to Miss Rowly!’

How she regarded Leonard Everard now was shown in her instinctive classing him amongst her enemies.

When she entered the room she seemed all aglow. She wanted not only to overcome but to punish; and all the woman in her had risen to the effort. Never in her life had Stephen Norman looked more radiantly beautiful, more adorable, more desirable. Even Leonard Everard felt his pulses