Court at the end of this week. I can't stand town in July. What date
are you coming to us?"

Peter was silent a moment, his eyes bent on the ground. Then he raised
his head suddenly as though he had just come to a decision.

"I'm afraid I shan't be able to come down," he said quietly.

"But you promised us!" objected Kitty. "Peter, you can't go back on a
promise!"

He regarded her gravely. Then:

"Sometimes one has to do--even that."

Kitty, discerning in his refusal another facet of that "something
wrong" she had suspected, clasped her hands round her knees and faced
him with deliberation.

"Look here, Peter, it isn't you to break a promise without some real
good reason. You say you can't come down to us at Mallow. Why not?"

He met her eyes steadily.

"I can't answer that," he replied.

Kitty remained obdurate.

"I want an answer, Peter. We've been pals for some time now,
and"--with vigour--"I'm not going to be kept out of whatever it is