"Have I?" she said, with a little embarrassed laugh. "Well, I have been
out riding--with Nigel."

"Oh, Nigel lives round here, does he?" said Wynne, with a sarcastic
laugh. "Like it, old man?"

"Oh, I like it well enough," retorted Merriton. "At any rate I'll be
obliged to get used to it. I've said good-bye to India for keeps, Wynne.
I'm settled here for good."

Wynne swung upon his heel at the tone of Merriton's voice, and his eyes
narrowed. He stood almost a head taller than Nigel--who was by no means
short--and was big and broad and heavy-chested. Merriton always felt at
a disadvantage.

"So? You are going to settle down to it altogether, then?" said Wynne,
with an odd note in his deep, booming voice. 'Toinette sent a quick,
rather scared look into her lover's face. He smiled back as though to
reassure her.

"Yes," he said, a trifle defiantly. "You see, Wynne, I've come into a
place near here. I'm--I'm hoping to get married soon. 'Toinette and I,
you know. She's done me the honour to promise to be my wife. Congratulate
me, won't you?"

It was like a blow full in the face to the other man. For a moment all
the colour drained out of his bronzed cheeks and he went as white as
death.