It seemed to Beryl that he was fencing with her--delaying their real talk. But she accepted his lead. 'Yes, Desmond seems to like her. I don't gather that Pamela cares very much about her.' 'Oh, Pamela takes time. But what do you think the secretary did last night?' 'What?' They had paused under a group of limes clad in a glory of yellow leaf, and she was looking up in surprise at the unusual animation playing over the features of the man beside her. 'She refused to sign a codicil to my father's will, disinheriting me, and came to tell me so this morning! You should have heard her! Very formal and ceremonious--very much on her dignity! But such a brick!' Mannering's deep-set eyes under his lined thinker's brow shone with amusement. Beryl, with the instinctive jealousy of a girl in love, was conscious of a sudden annoyance that Miss Bremerton should have been mixed up in Aubrey's personal affairs. 'What _do_ you mean?' Aubrey put an arm round her shoulder. She knew she ought to shake it off, but the pressure of it was too welcome. They strolled on. 'I had my talk with father last night. I told him he was absurd, and I was my own master. That you were perfectly free to give me up--that I had begged you to consider it--but I didn't think you would,' he smiled down upon her, but more gravely; 'and failing dismissal from you, we should be married as soon as it was reasonably possible. Was that right, darling?' She evaded the question. 'Well--and then?' 'Then he broke out. Sir Henry of course was the _bête noire_. You can imagine the kind of things he said, I needn't repeat them. He is in a mood of perfectly mad opposition to all this war legislation, and it is not the least good arguing with him. Finally he told me that my allowance would be stopped, and Mannering would be left to Desmond, if we married. "All right!" I said, "I daresay, if he and I survive you, Desmond will let me look round sometimes." Not very respectful, perhaps, but by that time I was fed up. So then I wished him good-night, and went back to the drawing-room. In a few minutes he sent for Miss Bremerton--nobody knew why. I was dog-tired, and went to bed, and didn't I sleep!--nine good hours. Then this morning, just after breakfast, when I was strolling in the garden with a cigarette waiting for Pamela, who should come out but Miss Bremerton! Have you seen her?' 'Only in the distance.'