He put down his Jovian head, and rubbed his cheek tenderly against hers, till she turned round, and gave him the lightest of kisses. "Was he an abominable correspondent?" he said, repentantly. "Abominable!" "Did you hate him!" "Whenever I had time. When do you start on your cruise, Arthur!" "Any time--some time--never!" he said, gaily. "Give me that Capel Curig address, and I'll wire for the rooms this afternoon. I came to the conclusion this morning that the same yacht couldn't hold her ladyship and me." "Oh!--so she's been chastening _you_?" said Doris, well pleased. Meadows nodded. "The rod has not been spared--since Sunday. It was then she got tired of me. I mark the day, you see, almost the hour. My goodness!--if you're not always up to your form--epigrams, quotations--all pat--" "She plucks you--without mercy. Down you slither into the second class!" Doris's look sparkled. "There you go--rejoicing in my humiliations!" said Meadows, putting an arm round the scoffer. "I tell you, she proposes to write my next set of lectures for me. She gave me an outline of them this morning." Then they both laughed together like children. And Doris, with her head on a strong man's shoulder, and a rough coat scrubbing her cheek, suddenly bethought her of the line--"Journeys end in lovers' meeting--" and was smitten with a secret wonder as to how much of her impulse to come north had been due to an altruistic concern for the Dunstable affairs, and how much to a firm determination to recapture Arthur from his Gloriana. But that doubt she would never reveal. It would be so bad for Arthur! She rose to her feet. "Where are they?" "Lord and Lady Dunstable? Gone off to Dunkeld to find their solicitor and bring him back to meet Miss Wigram. They'll be home by tea. I'm to look after you." "Are we going to an hotel?" Meadows laughed immoderately. "Come and look at your apartment, my dear. One of her ladyship's maids has been told off to look after you. As I expect you have arrived with little more than a comb-and-brush bag, there will be a good deal to do." Doris caught him by the coat-fronts. "You don't mean to say that I shall be expected to dine to-night! I have _not_ brought an evening dress." "What does that matter? I met Miss Field in the passage, as I was coming in to you, and she said: 'I see Mrs. Meadows has not brought much luggage. We can lend her anything she wants. I will send her a few of Rachel's tea-gowns to choose from.'" Doris's laugh was hysterical; then she sobered down. "What time is it? Four o'clock. Oh, I wish Miss Wigram was here! You know, Lord Dunstable must go to town to-night! And Miss Wigram can't arrive till after the last train from here." "They know. They've ordered a special, to take Lord Dunstable and the solicitor to Edinburgh, to catch the midnight mail." "Oh, well--if you can bully the fates like that!--" said Doris, with a shrug. "How did he take it?" Meadows's tone changed.