Soon after ten o’clock Tarbot took his leave. He shook hands first with Barbara, then he went up to Mrs. Pelham. “I shall expect you to-morrow,” he said. “I shall be with you at eleven o’clock,” she replied. He then left the room, Dick accompanying him as far as the hall door. The moment Barbara and Mrs. Pelham were alone Barbara spoke. “I am glad that is over,” she said. “Why do you dislike him, Barbara?” “I cannot explain what I feel about him,” said Barbara impatiently. “By the way was he making an appointment with you? I thought we were to go to Exeter to-morrow.” “I hope, dear, that you will not mind putting off the expedition until Friday, or, if that is very inconvenient, will you go without me?” “Of course I will put it off if there is any good reason for it,” said Barbara. “We can go on Friday quite as well as to-morrow.” “Dr. Tarbot wants to leave for London on Friday morning,” said Mrs. Pelham, “and as he wishes to see me on a matter of business I appointed to-morrow at eleven o’clock.” “Well,” said Barbara, tapping her fingers lightly on the mantelpiece, “we must ask him to lunch, I suppose. I frankly confess that I shall be glad when he goes.” “I fear he must have guessed your feelings towards him, for he refuses to come here. He has asked me to meet him at the ‘Pelham Arms.’” Barbara said nothing further, for at that moment her husband reentered the room. The next day at the appointed hour Mrs. Pelham put on her things and prepared to walk to the “Pelham Arms.” Pelham met her in the avenue and asked where she was going. “To the ‘Pelham Arms,’ to meet Luke Tarbot.” “Why doesn’t he come here?” said Pelham. “He ought not to order you about in that style.” “He didn’t order me, Dick. I invited him here, knowing that you and Barbara would give me free leave to do so.” “Of course,” said Pelham. “But he preferred seeing me at the ‘Arms,’ and as I had no excuse to offer, I of course agreed. I shall be back before long. Good-by.” “Won’t you have the carriage?” called Dick after her. “No, it is a lovely morning, and I shall enjoy the walk.” Mrs. Pelham reached the “Pelham Arms” at three minutes to eleven. Tarbot was waiting for her, he was standing on the steps, a cigar in his mouth. When he saw her he threw away the cigar and came forward to meet her. His face was white, his lips looked thinner than ever, and his eyes had a strained expression. “I have secured a private sitting-room,” he said; “we shall be quite undisturbed. Come this way.” Mrs. Pelham wondered what Tarbot wanted with her, and what news could affect her seriously now that the child was dead; she felt distressed and nervous. Trembling a little, she followed the doctor into a small room, at the back of the bar. It smelt of cheese and stale beer. Tarbot went to the window and threw it open. There was a fire in the grate. “That makes the atmosphere more tolerable,” he said. “I am sorry I could not invite you to a nicer room.”