"He has been very rude to me, Aunt Cecily, and I don't want to talk to him. I am sorry you find me so dull, but my month here is soon coming to an end. I shall have to be going home next week. I heard this morning from Uncle Derrick, and he wants me to fix my date for returning." If Adrienne had exploded a bomb, she could not have startled her aunt more. She burst forth into a torrent of expostulations, almost French in her excitement and agitation. "I will not hear of it, Adrienne! You came here to be with me. Your uncles have each other! You know I cannot be left alone. It is preposterous! To come over here for a month! You know you could not do it! Your home ought to be with me altogether. I have a claim upon you. You are my only niece, you have no parents, and your home ought to be with me and not with your uncles! I will not hear of your going! I shall write to Derrick to-night. I will wire! He shall not take you away! How can I be left in my present state of health? It is cruel! The very suggestion is making me feel quite faint and unnerved. Help me into the salon. I must lie down. No, I do not want any strawberries." Out came her handkerchief. Adrienne looked helplessly at Guy, who rose and offered his stepmother his arm. "No," the Countess sobbed; "I will go to bed, I am too unwell. My heart is bad. To spring such a thing upon me is most unkind. Guy, use your authority; tell her she is not to go. You brought her over; make her stay!" "Oh, Aunt Cecily," said Adrienne, quite distressed at the commotion she had caused, "I am sorry, but you know I only came for a month. Don't think any more about it to-night. Let me come up and help you." For a moment the Countess seemed as if she were going to refuse her help, then she thought better of it; but all the way upstairs she was upbraiding her as she leant upon her arm, with ingratitude and selfishness. Guy lit his pipe and paced the terrace outside, wondering if Adrienne would come down again, or if she would ignore his presence there. He felt a great relief when he saw her white gown in the distance. A few minutes later she stood before him. "My aunt has sent me to you with a message. She wants you to come over to-morrow morning and see her about a letter she has received from a farmer. It is about some fences that want to be renewed. They border on his ground, and his cattle break through." "Tell her I will be here at half-past ten." Then he drew forward a wicker chair. "Come and sit down. If I had not offended you, you would not have threatened to leave your aunt. And I have come to the conclusion that I must explain. I know these people at Le Sourge, and the man is a wastrel and a scoundrel, and not fit for any nice girl to know." Adrienne dropped into the chair he had placed for her.