Adrien Leroy

She flushed slightly at his significant tones.

"Yes," she replied. "Uncle, thank you so much for letting us have the

ball----"

"Nonsense, my dear" he returned. "Adrien told me you wanted it, and that

was sufficient. Why didn't you ask me yourself? Have I been such a cruel

guardian?"

"No, no," she cried, and coming round to him impulsively, she pressed

her lips to his forehead. "You've been the dearest uncle in the world.

Indeed, no father could have been better."

He smiled at her earnestness.

"I've done my best, my dear, though I admit I'd like you for my very own

daughter-in-law."

Lady Constance blushed scarlet. This was carrying the war into the

enemy's camp with a vengeance.

"'Nobody axed me, sir, she said,'" she sang gaily.

"Ah, but whose fault is that?" asked Lord Barminster, pleased that she

had not refused to discuss the question.

"Please, Uncle Philip," she said, with a sudden quiver in her voice,

"I'd rather not talk about it--if you don't mind."

"Quite right, my dear," replied Lord Barminster, patting her hand

reassuringly.

For a few minutes there was silence. His lordship drank his coffee,

while his companion stared dreamily through the window at the

magnificent view of park and woods. The old man was the first to speak.

"We shall miss Lord Standon," he said, with a meaning glance at her.

Lady Constance looked up with a start; then, as she realised the

significance of this simple statement, she smiled. She knew she could

trust her uncle not to betray her woman's secret; and, though she had no

scruple in using Lord Standon as a means to spur on Adrien, she would

not allow the old man to be worried unnecessarily by doubts of her

fidelity to his beloved son.

"Yes," she answered, quietly. "But he only came down for the race; and I

daresay he was anxious to rejoin his fiancee."

It was her uncle's turn to start, and his intense surprise told Lady

Constance only too well that her speculations were correct. Adrien had

believed her in love with Lord Standon, and his father had undertaken to

find out the truth. She was not afraid of Adrien's being undeceived now;

for, even if Lord Barminster wrote--which was very unlikely--the spur

would have done its work.

"I did not know he was engaged," the old man exclaimed.

"No, the news has not been made public; but he told me in confidence,"

Lady Constance returned calmly, as she rose from the breakfast-table.

Then, having seen her companion installed with his newspaper, she passed

out to the terrace.