Cis--who, of course, is all right--but I have a feeling we won't tell
her we've met this dryad of a Halcyone La Sarthe. Have you got that
instinct, too?"

"Quite strongly," said Arabella, who never wasted words. "I was going to
mention to you the same idea myself."

"Then that is understood!" and she laughed her happy laugh. "I'll see
that Freynie doesn't peach!"

Thus it was that four demure and healthful-looking beings joined the
party on the terrace of Wendover, and described their pleasant walk,
without one word spoken of their _rencontre_ with the youngest Miss La
Sarthe. And once or twice Cora Lutworth's mischievous eyes met those of
John Derringham, and they both laughed.




CHAPTER XVI


John Derringham made a point of slipping away on the Easter Tuesday
afternoon; he determined to drink tea with the Misses La Sarthe. He went
to his room with important letters to write, and then sneaked down again
like a truant schoolboy, and when he got safely out of sight, struck
obliquely across the park to the one vulnerable spot in the haw-haw, and
after fumbling a good deal, from his side, managed to get the spikes out
and to climb down, and repeat the operation upon the other side. There
was no water here, it was on rather higher ground, and he was soon