"She said, 'Drown myself in the lake, Harry--or else send for Andy Hayes.'" "Did she say that?" cried Andy, hugely delighted, blushing as red as he had when the Nun told him that he was attractive. If Andy's simplicity and ready enthusiasm were congenial to some minds and some moods, to others they could be very exasperating. To have it assumed that you are feeling just what you ought to feel--or even rather more than could in strictness be expected from you--may be a strain on your patience. Harry had welcomed in Andy an assumption of this order; at the moment it helped him. Isobel gave a similar assumption about her feelings a much less hearty welcome. While Harry and Vivien took a stroll by themselves after lunch, Andy sat by her and was enthusiastic about them; he had forgotten the Nun's unjust hints. Isobel chafed. "Oh, yes, it's all very ideal, I daresay, Mr. Hayes. Let's hope it'll last! But Mr. Harry's been in love before, hasn't he?" "Most people have had a fancy or two." (Even he himself had indulged in one.) "This is quite different to him, I know. And how could anybody help being fond of her?" "At any rate she's pretty free from the dangers of competition down here." She looked at Andy with a curious smile. He laughed heartily. "Yes, that's all right, anyhow! Not that it would make any difference, I'm sure." "If it were only to show this simpleton--" The angry thought was in her heart. But there was more. Harry's devotion was seeming very whole-hearted that day. Had she lost her power to disturb it? Was Andy in the end right in leaving her utterly out of consideration? Every day now and every hour it hurt her more to see Harry's handsome head ever bowed to Vivien, his eyes asking her love and receiving the loving answer. A wave of jealousy and of defiance swept over her. Andy need not know--she could afford to leave him in his folly. Vivien must not know--that would be too inconvenient. But Harry himself--was he quite to forget those two walks to the gate? She burned to use her power. A letter from Wellgood had reached her that morning; it was not a proposal of marriage, but by his talk of future plans--of what was to happen after Vivien left them--it assumed that she was still to be at Nutley. The implication was definite; matters only awaited his return. "I haven't had a single word with you--by ourselves--all day," said Vivien to Andy after dinner. "You'll walk with me, won't you?" "For my part I don't think I want to walk at all," said Harry. "It's rather chilly. Will you keep me company indoors, and forgive my cigar, Miss Vintry?"