had been too busy to trouble much over women as a sex since he had left
the University--except in the way he had once described to his old
master, regarding them as flowers in a garden--mere pleasures for sight
and touch, and experiencing ephemeral passions which left no mark. But
women either feared or adored him; and this woman, the desired of a host
of his friends, had singled him out for her especial favors. It had
amused him the whole of the last season; he had defied her efforts to
chain him to her chariot wheels, and in the winter she had gone to
Egypt, and had only just returned. But the charm was growing, and he
felt he would allow himself to be caught in her net.

"Mrs. Cricklander would be very much amused could she hear this verdict
of the county," he said with a certain tone in his voice which did not
escape Halcyone. "In London we do not occupy ourselves with such
unimportant things--but I dare say she will get over it. And now I
really must be going back. May I walk with you through the park, Miss
Halcyone, if you are going, too? I am sure there must be an opening
somewhere, as the two places touch."

"Yes, there is just one," Halcyone said. "The haw-haw runs the whole
way, and it is impossible to pass, except in the one spot, and I believe
no one knows of it but myself. There are a few bricks loose, and I used
to take them out and put them back when I wanted to get into
Wendover--long ago."

"Then it will be an adventure; come," he said, and Halcyone rose.

"Only if you will not give away my secret. Promise you will not tell
anyone else," she bargained.