"Anstice, to-morrow morning I want your undivided attention. I am not going to stand any interruption, so will you come out with me directly after breakfast? I see that my only chance will be to get away from both house and children. We're in for a fine spell, so we'll take our lunch in the motor launch." Anstice hesitated. "I promised—" "Whatever promises you have made must be broken. I have come home to have a talk with you, and that talk must be had to-morrow." "Very well," she said quietly. "Your claims come first. I will send a message through Brenda to the Nixons to say I will go over another day." She left him, and went upstairs to her room, but she did not go to bed, she sat by her window looking out into the hushed moonlit garden, and her thoughts grew complicated and confused. She heard her husband come up to his room soon after midnight, and later she was conscious of his restless pacing up and down the room. When she finally went to bed, sleep forsook her. And, as so often when she had sleepless nights, her soul rose upwards in prayer to the One in Whose care and love she was resting. "My past," she murmured, "has been full of mistakes. Do not let me take a false step now!" And then at last she fell asleep, and did not wake till the sun was high in the heavens. But when Justin came to breakfast, she had done all her housekeeping, and was ready for anything that he might require. At half-past ten their luncheon basket was in the launch, and they pushed off on a still, blue lake. The children had made a great outcry when they heard that both "Dad" and "Steppie" were going to disappear for the day, but Anstice promised them that she would be back to tea; and as Justin agreed to this, they were forced to be content. Justin was unusually grave as they crossed the lake; Anstice began giving him bits of local news to which he barely responded. She saw he was preoccupied with his own thoughts, and waited his time for unfolding them. He landed at a most delightful little cove away in the hollow of the Fells, a veritable nest of mossy turf against a bank of bracken, overshadowed by a drooping mountain ash. They took out their rugs and luncheon basket, and settled themselves comfortably down, then Justin drew a long breath. "Now we're alone at last, we can't have any interruptions and you won't be able to get away from me till you've heard me out." Anstice laughed, but it was an effort to be her natural easy self. "You are very mysterious; but, as you say, you can now have my undivided attention." "Why do you think I have come home?" he asked her abruptly. "I don't quite know, but I think you are getting fond of your home and children." "I haven't come home with any thoughts of the house or the children. I have come back, wholly and entirely, because of you."