understand what it means to me Auntie dear, to feel that we belong to
each other properly before--before it all begins for him, and--and
there may be no more. Daddy doesn't realise. I know he's awfully good,
but--he's forgotten."

"My dear, I think he remembers only too well. He was desperately
attached to your mother."

Noel clenched her hands.

"Was he? Well, so am I to Cyril, and he to me. We wouldn't be
unreasonable if it wasn't--wasn't necessary. Talk, to Cyril, Auntie;
then you'll understand. There he is; only, don't keep him long, because
I want him. Oh! Auntie; I want him so badly!"

She turned; and slipped back into the house; and Thirza, conscious of
having been decoyed to this young man, who stood there with his arms
folded, like Napoleon before a battle, smiled and said:

"Well, Cyril, so you've betrayed me!"

Even in speaking she was conscious of the really momentous change
in this sunburnt, blue-eyed, lazily impudent youth since the day he
arrived, three weeks ago, in their little wagonette. He took her arm,
just as Noel had, and made her sit down beside him on the rustic bench,
where he had evidently been told to wait.

"You see, Mrs. Pierson," he said, "it's not as if Noel were an ordinary
girl in an ordinary time, is it? Noel is the sort of girl one would
knock one's brains out for; and to send me out there knowing that I