"I saw her with Burmistone half an hour ago," he answered coldly. "Have you any message for my mother? I shall return to London to-morrow, leaving here early." She turned quite pale. She had not counted upon this at all, and it was extremely inopportune. "What has happened?" she asked rigidly. He looked slightly surprised. "Nothing whatever," he replied. "I have remained here longer than I intended." She began to move the manacles on her right wrist. He made not the smallest profession of reluctance to go. She said, at last, "If you will find Lucia, you will oblige me." She was almost uncivil to Miss Pilcher, who chanced to join her after he was gone. She had not the slightest intention of allowing her plans to be frustrated, and was only roused to fresh obstinacy by encountering indifference on one side and rebellion on the other. She had not brought Lucia up under her own eye for nothing. She had been disturbed of late, but by no means considered herself baffled. With the assistance of Mr. Dugald Binnie, she could certainly subdue Lucia, though Mr. Dugald Binnie had been of no great help so far. She would do her duty unflinchingly. In fact, she chose to persuade herself, that, if Lucia was brought to a proper frame of mind, there could be no real trouble with Francis Barold. CHAPTER XXV. "SOMEBODY ELSE." But Barold did not make any very ardent search for Lucia. He stopped to watch a game of lawn-tennis, in which Octavia and Lord Lansdowne had joined, and finally forgot Lady Theobald's errand altogether. For some time Octavia did not see him. She was playing with great spirit, and Lord Lansdowne was following her delightedly. Finally a chance of the game bringing her to him, she turned suddenly, and found Barold's eyes fixed upon her. "How long have you been there?" she asked. "Some time," he answered. "When you are at liberty, I wish to speak to you." "Do you?" she said. She seemed a little unprepared for the repressed energy of his manner, which, he strove to cover by a greater amount of coldness than usual. "Well," she said, after thinking a moment, "the game will soon be ended. I am going through the conservatories with Lord Lansdowne in course of time; but I dare say he can wait." She went back, and finished her game, apparently enjoying it as much as ever. When it was over, Barold made his way to her. He had resented her remaining oblivious of his presence when he stood near her, and he had resented her enjoyment of her surroundings; and now, as he led her away, leaving Lord Lansdowne rather disconsolate, he resented the fact that she did not seem nervous, or at all impressed by his silence. "What do you want to say to me?" she asked. "Let us go and sit down in one of the arbors. I believe I am a little tired--not that I mind it, though. I've been having a lovely time." Then she began to talk about Lord Lansdowne.