It was not that he refused to take No when it was given to him, but rather that he did not recognise it, never having encountered it before. They were now coming round by the pigeon-shooting enclosure, and the strains of the band announced that the interval for tea had elapsed. In the distance Lady Mazerod and Edith, attended by the indefatigable Jack, were keeping a chair for Dora. She slackened her pace. To her the knowledge had come that the difficulties of life have usually to be met single-handed. She was not afraid of Arthur, but this was a distinct difficulty because of the influence he had at his back. “Arthur,” she said, “I think we had better understand each other _now_. It may save us both something in the future. I cannot help feeling rather sorry that I must say No. Every girl must feel that. I do not know from whence the feeling comes. It is a sort of regret, as if something good and valuable were being wasted. But, Arthur, it _is_ No, and it must always be No. I am not the sort of person to change.” “I suppose,” he replied, _en vrai fils de sa mère_, “that there is some one else?” He turned as he spoke, but Dora's parasol was too quick for him. “Please do not let us be like people in books,” she said. “There is no necessity to go into side issues at all. You have asked me to marry you. I can never marry you. There is the whole question and the whole answer. I say nothing to you about finding somebody worthier, or any nonsense of that sort. Please spare me the usual--impertinences--about there being somebody else.” The word found its mark. Arthur Agar caught his breath, but made no answer. They were among the well-dressed throng now crowding back to the chairs. When Arthur had handed Dora over to the care of Lady Mazerod he lifted his hat and took his departure with that perfect _savoir faire_ which was his _forte_. CHAPTER XX IN A SIDE PATH “To sum up all, he has the worst fault-a husband can have, he's not my choice.” There is something doubtful in a love-making that is in more than two pairs of hands. This is a day of syndicates. The strength that lies in union is cultivated nowadays with much assiduity. But in matters of love the case is not yet altered, and never will be. It is a matter for two people to decide between themselves, and all interference is mistaken and deplorable. It is usually, one notices, those persons who are incapable of the feeling themselves who seek to interfere in the affairs of others.