"You are nothing of the sort," said Chris, who was far from realising the situation. "Mackrell played up well certainly about the Vase, but his motives were interested, and he'd be a rotter if he regarded you as being in his debt. I don't wish the poor chap any harm, but I'm afraid he'll have to put up with Lossie, unless she changes her mind." "He--he is with Lossie just now," said Gay nervously, "but he may be here at any moment--" "Not if he accepts her," said Chris, chuckling, "for I imagine there's something in the wind." "Wouldn't you like to run down and see the Professor?" she cried eagerly. "He's always so delighted to see you!" "I'm quite happy where I am," said Chris, smiling broadly. What a shy little thing she was, and what ridiculous ideas she got into her head; it was a relief to find she could be silly after all! "You are looking very pretty this morning," and he looked her over admiringly. Gay blushed--somehow she never _did_ look nice without wishing for Chris to be there, and see how nice she looked. "I hear St. Swithin's Court is charming," he said--"the place where we're going to live, you know--and the work Rensslaer's giving me will suit me down to the ground. Just fancy _living_ in the midst of that paradise of horses! And he's giving me a thousand a year--rippin', ain't it?" and he kissed Gay again before she could stop him. "Now, can't we be married early next month, go abroad for a bit, and be home in good time for the shooting? Morning, Mackrell!" as that gentleman came in, and Gay half rose, her heart beating wildly.... With a sick sense of despair, after one glance at his face, she knew that Lossie had failed. "We were just talking about St. Swithin's, the little place that goes with the berth Rensslaer has given me," said Chris. "If the birds are all right, we'll be very pleased if you'll make one of the guns on the First--won't we, Gay?" There was a queer silence for a moment, then Carlton said quietly: "I'm afraid there's some mistake. Gay is engaged to me for the First--and for many other Firsts, I hope." Chris's glance flashed from one to the other, even in that moment he lived up to his motto, "Never show when you're hit," but his jaws gritted together, as, with an upward jerk of his bright head, he said: "A very serious mistake, as Miss Lawless is engaged to me." Both men were standing, and at what Gay saw on their faces, she rose also, and stood between them. "I am engaged to Carlton Mackrell," she said to Chris. "Will you please go away now?" After one long look between her eyes, without a word Chris went, his proud young face impassive as Rensslaer's Indian; yet Gay felt as if there had been murder done, when the door closed, and involuntarily she stretched out her arms towards it. "Oh, my God!" she whispered. "Come back, for I love you, Chris ... I _love_ you."