The afternoon wore on and at dusk Garstang and Claud made their appearance, followed by a labourer carrying a basket, which was too short to hold the head and tail of a twelve-pound pike, which lay on the top of half-a-dozen more. "Better have come with us, Harry," said Claud. "Had some pretty good sport. Found it dull?" "I? No," was the reply. "I say, what time do you dine to-night?" "Old hour--six." "Going to stay dinner, Harry?" said Garstang. "Oh, yes; I'm going to stay dinner," said the young man, giving him a defiant look. "Well, it will be pleasanter, but it is a very dark ride." "Yes, but I'm going to walk." "No, you aren't," said Claud, in a sulky tone of voice; "we're going to have you driven over." "There is no need." "Oh, yes, there is. I want a ride to have a cigar after dinner, and I shall come and see you off. We don't do things like that, even if we haven't asked anyone to come." Kate made her appearance again at dinner, and once more Garstang was the life and soul of the party, which would otherwise have been full of constraint. But it was not done in a boisterous, ostentatious way. Everything was in good taste, and Kate more than once grew quite animated, till she saw that both the young men were eagerly listening to her, when she withdrew into herself. Mrs Wilton got through the dinner without once making her lord frown, and she was congratulating herself upon her success, as she rose, after making a sign, when her final words evolved a tempestuous flash of his eyes. "Don't you think you had better stop till the morning, Harry Dasent?" she said. But his quick reply allayed the storm at once. "Oh, no, thank you, Aunt," he said, with a side glance at Garstang. "I must be back to look after business in the morning." "But it's so dark, my dear." "Bah! the dark won't hurt him, Maria, and I've told them to bring the dog-cart round at eight." "Oh, that's very good of you, sir," said the young man; "but I had made up my mind to walk." "I told you I should ride over with you, didn't I?" growled Claud. "Yes, but--" "I know. There, hold your row. We needn't start till half-past eight, so there'll be plenty of time for coffee and a cigar." "Then I had better say good-night to you now, Mr Dasent," said Kate, quietly, holding out her hand. "Oh, I shall see you again," he cried. "No; I am about to ask Aunt to let me go up to my room now; it has been a tiring day." "Then good-night," he said impressively, and he took and pressed her hand in a way which made her colour slightly, and Claud twitch one arm and double his list under the table. "Good-night. Good-night, Claud." She shook hands; then crossed to her uncle. "Good-night, my dear," he said, drawing her down to kiss her cheek. "Glad you are so much better." "Thank you, Uncle.--Good-night, Mr Garstang." Her lip was quivering a little, but she smiled at him gratefully as he rose and spoke in a low affectionate way.