_Lady Culverin._ Then of course we must let you do _exactly_ as you please. _Pilliner_ (_to himself_). Lady Maisie's a little brick! No notion she had it _in_ her. No occasion to bother myself about the beggar now. "Let him alone and he'll go home, and carry his tail beneath him!" [_All except_ Miss SPELWANE _breathe more freely_; TREDWELL _appears_. _Lady Culverin._ Oh, lunch, is it, Tredwell? Very well. By the bye, see that some one packs Mr. Undershell's things for him, and tell them to send the dog-cart round after lunch in time to catch the 3.15 from Shuntingbridge. _Archie_ (_sotto voce, to_ PILLINER). We don't want any _more_ missin' of trains, eh? I'll go round and see the cart properly balanced myself _this_ time. _Pilliner_ (_in the same tone_). No, dear boy, you're not to be trusted! _I'll_ see that done, then the bard and his train will be alike in one respect--_neither_ of 'em 'll be missed! _Miss Spelwane_ (_to herself, piqued._) Going already! I wish I had never touched his ridiculous snowdrops! _Lady Culverin._ Well, shall we go in to lunch, everybody? [_They move in irregular order towards the dining-hall._ _Undershell_ (_in an undertone to_ Lady MAISIE, _as they follow last_). Lady Maisie, I--er--this is just a _little_ unexpected. I confess I don't quite understand your precise motive in suggesting so--so hasty a departure. _Lady Maisie_ (_without looking at him_). Don't you, Mr. Blair? Perhaps--when you come to think over it all quietly--you _will_. [_She passes on, leaving him perplexed._ [Illustration: "PERHAPS--WHEN YOU COME TO THINK OVER IT ALL QUIETLY--YOU WILL."] _Undershell_ (_to himself_). Shall I? I certainly can't say I do just---- Why, yes, I _do_! That bully Spurrell with his horsewhip! She dreads an encounter between us--and I should much prefer to avoid it myself. Yes; that's it, of course. She is willing to sacrifice anything rather than endanger _my_ personal safety! What unselfish angels some women are! Even that sneering fellow Drysdale will be impressed when I tell him this.... Yes, it's best that I should go--I see that now. I don't so much mind leaving. Without any false humility, I can hardly avoid seeing that, even in the short time I have been amongst these people, I have produced a decided impression. And there is at least one--perhaps _two_--who will miss me when I am gone. [_He goes into the Dining-hall, with restored complacency._ THE END. PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES. * * * * * THE NOVEL SERIES.