"I don't wish to discuss them! If Marjorie is obsessed with this folly
about young Arundel, it will be her misfortune. If she wants to marry
him she will probably regret it. I intended her to marry you; but since
it can't be, I don't feel any particular interest in the matter of
Marjorie's marriage at the moment! Now tell me about Joan at once!"

"Believe me, I--I much prefer not to: it is a sore subject, a matter I
never speak about!"

"Oh, go away then--and leave me to myself. Let me think it all out!"

He went gladly enough; he made his way back to the lily-pond.

"Marjorie," he said tragically, "what have you done?"

"Oh, Hugh!" She was trembling at once.

"No, no, dear, don't worry; it is nothing. She believes every word, and
I feel sure it will be all right for you and Tom, but, oh Marjorie--that
name, I thought you had invented it!"

Marjorie flushed. "It was the name of a girl at Miss Skinner's: she was
a great, great friend of mine. She was two years older than I, and just
as sweet and beautiful as her name, and when you were casting about for
one I--I just thought of it, Hugh. It hasn't done any harm, has it?"

"I hope not, only, don't you see, you've made me claim an existing young
lady as my wife, and if she turned up some time or other--"

"But she won't! When she left school she went out to Australia to join