played with his beard. So at last he got up to go.

"I have made up my mind to marry Mrs. Cricklander, Master," he said.

"I supposed so," the Professor replied dryly. "A man always has to
convince himself he is doing a fine thing when he gives himself up to be
hanged."




CHAPTER XVII


John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an
impossible temper. He had left the orchard house coming as near to a
quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be. He absolutely
refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had
given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her
lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he
would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his
Chief--an engaged man. But this turn of events was not in the
calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person
than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side. They
were both smoking and looked very comfortable and at ease.

"I just came in to tell you I shall be obliged to tear myself away
to-morrow," John Derringham said, "and cannot have the pleasure of
staying to the end of the week in this delightful place."