things she may want to go back to the convent. She has hinted at it
more than once already."

"There will be nothing of that sort at Salt-house," Cecil de la
Borne declared eagerly. "You see, I sha'n't have any guests at all
except just yourselves. Don't you think that would be best?"

"I do, indeed," the Princess assented, "and mind, you are not to
make any special preparations for us. For my part, I simply want a
little rest before we go abroad again, and we really want to come to
you feeling the same way that one leaves one's home for lodgings in
a farmhouse. You will understand this, won't you, Cecil?" she added
earnestly, laying her fingers upon his arm, "or we shall not come."

"It shall be just as you say," he answered. "As a matter of fact the
Red Hall is little more than a large farmhouse, and there is very
little preparation which I could make for you in a day or a day and
a half. You shall come and see how a poor English countryman lives,
whose lands and income have shrivelled up together. If you are dull
you will not blame me, I know, for all that you have to do is to go
away."

The Princess rose and put out her hand.

"It is settled, then," she declared. "Thank you, dear Mr. Host, for
your very delightful dinner. Jeanne and I have to go on to
Harlingham House for an hour or two, the last of these terrible
entertainments, I am glad to say. Do send me a note round in the
morning, with the exact name of your house, and some idea of the
road we must follow, so that we do not get lost. I suppose you two,"