"Miss Phillimore," he said, "I cannot tell you how sorry I am that this
should have happened."

She was on her knees before her mother. She turned and rose slowly to
her feet. Sir Leslie never quite forgot her gesture as she motioned him
towards the door. It was one of the most uncomfortable moments of his
life.

"I am afraid--"

She did not speak a word, yet Sir Leslie obeyed what seemed to him more
eloquent than words. He turned and left the room and the house. Without
any change in her tense expression she waited until she heard him go.
Then she sank upon her knees on the hearthrug, and hid her face in her
hands.




CHAPTER X

THE MAN WITH A MOTIVE


Mannering sat alone in the shade of his cedar tree. He had walked in his
rose-garden amongst a wilderness of drooping blossoms, for the season of
roses was gone. He had crossed the marshland seawards, only to find a
little crowd of holiday-makers in possession of the golf links and the
green tufted stretch of sandy shore. The day had been long, almost
irksome. A fit of restlessness had driven him from his study. He seemed