"How could one woman spoil a man's life?" she pondered. "How could she destroy his faith in God, and trust in his fellow-creatures? How could she develop such concentrated bitterness of soul? And yet with it all, how tenderness and courteousness creeps out! He's a strange mixture. I wonder if I shall ever get to know him?" The very next morning, Anstice received an urgent invitation from Lady Lucy to come and spend a week or ten days in town with her. She said she was not very well herself, and wanted companionship. "I know your passion for helping those in need," she wrote; "so I expect you to respond at once to my appeal. Tell Justin that he cannot keep you shut up in that outlandish part of the world all the year round, with no change at all. Now he is at home, he can take charge, and you can have a holiday. Don't dare to refuse my invitation!" Anstice read this through at breakfast time; then handed it to him. "You know your aunt and her ways. What am I to say?" He read it through with a frown upon his brow. "Do you want to go?" he asked curtly. Anstice considered. "I think I should like to do so. I should not stay longer than ten days. You would be here. Brenda can look after the children. The other maids all know their work. I should not be missed." He said nothing. Anstice gave a little laugh. "Don't look so funereal; it is nothing to ask you for. Ten days' complete change—I won't say rest—for I know Cousin Lucy, and I am rather sceptical about her ill-health. She wants some one to racket round with her. You must remember that I have not stirred out of this house since the beginning of last June." "There is no question of asking me about it. You know you are your own mistress, and if you like to stay away a month, you can do so without any reference to me. As you are rather hors de combat, it will be a good opportunity to go." "Thank you. Then I will. I will resign my kingdom for the time being." "I don't know that I shan't run up to town too, at the same time," said Justin suddenly. Anstice looked at him with twinkling eyes. "My dear man, that isn't playing the game! You are wanted here in my absence: you know you are! And Bob is not well yet, and there's nobody you can trust to superintend the lads over at the farm. You can go off when I come back." Justin gazed back at her, and a glimmer of a smile came to his lips. "I funk being snowed up here alone with these imps of children. I remember them of old." "But you will not have them riotous now. The snow is disappearing. Mrs. Fergusson wrote to me that she hopes to be here to-morrow. They will be at lessons all the morning, and their little den occupies them, and keeps them well away from your vicinity." "All right. You had better go. I won't make any promises, one way or the other." So Anstice made preparations to go. The children were rather dismayed. "You're sure you're not going to run away from us, and leave us altogether?"