And Arabella stood there, her kind plain face crimson, and her brown eyes blinking pitifully behind her glasses. She was too fine to say anything, it would make the situation impossibly difficult if she invented an explanation. So she just blinked--and finally, after placing the fresh flowers by Mr. Derringham's bed, she left the room by the door beyond. When she had gone it was as if a curtain were raised upon John Derringham's understanding. Countless circumstances came back to him when his _fiancée's_ apparent learning had aroused his admiration, and with a twinge he remembered Cheiron's maliciously amused eyes which had met his during her visit to the orchard house, when she had become a little at sea in some of her conversation. The whole thing then was a colossal bluff--Arabella was the brain! Arabella was the erudite, cultured person and his admirable Cecilia played the rôle of extremely clever parrot! He laughed with bitter cynical merriment until he shook in his bed. And he, poor fool, had been taken in by it all--he and a number of others. He was in company at all events! Then he saw another aspect, and almost admired the woman for her audacity. What nerve to play such a game, and so successfully! The determination--the application it required--and the force of character! But the gall of it when she should be his wife! He saw pictures of himself trembling with apprehension at some important function in case mistakes should occur. He would have to play the part of Arabella, and write out the notes for the subjects to be "talked of at dinner!" He lay there, and groaned with rage and disgust. He could not--he would not go through with it! But next day the irony of fate fell upon him with heavy hand. He received the news that Joseph Scroope, his maternal uncle, was dead, not having produced an heir, so he knew that he would inherit a comfortable fortune from him. The noose had, indeed, tightened round his neck,--he could not now release himself from his engagement to Cecilia Cricklander. Some instincts of a gentleman still remained with him in full measure. The hideous, hideous mockery of it all. If he had waited, he would now have been free to seek his darling, his pure star, Halcyone, in all honor. He could have taken her dear, tender hand, and led her proudly to the seat by his side--and crowned her with whatever laurels her sweet spirit would have inspired him to gain. And it was all too late! too late!