He caught her hand and commenced to draw her across the room. He looked so young, so happy, so full of life, that Evarne forcibly thrust all her own miseries back into the depth of her heart. She could not endure to see the glad look fade from his eyes even for a minute. "Very well, Geoff," she said in all meekness. "As long as you are sure that you really want me, I will never leave you of my own accord." "That's a promise?" "Very well, it shall be. But remember this, if you do come to believe that perhaps you would do wisely to listen to what I feel convinced your cousin's advice will be, you must not hesitate or think of me at all. I only exist now to please you, and I'm not afraid of spoiling you by telling you so, dear. My first and only wish is that everything shall be well with your life. Remember." He bent his head and kissed the hand he held, but declined to even discuss this subject with any seriousness. "Come," he said lightly. "I'm starving hungry! More than anything else in the world at the present moment I want you to give me my lunch." CHAPTER XXXIV SEKHET WHETS HER TEETH No one felt able thoroughly to settle themselves steadily to work that afternoon, for Lord Winborough had not timed his visit, and might be expected at any moment. They laughed and chatted for some time, but gradually painting was beginning to engross somewhat of its usual meed of attention, when the electric bell rang out. "That will be Winborough," declared Geoff as he left the room immediately to admit his visitor. The studio door swung to, so that only a confused murmur of voices came from the hall. In a minute it was opened again, and Geoff was heard saying-- "Oh yes, we're all much the same as usual. You remember Jack Hardy, and this is Frank Pallister." Evarne was standing with her back towards the door, and as the two young men had at once crossed over in that direction, they had passed out of the range of her vision; for, despite these interruptions, with the instincts of a thoroughly good model she had not stirred unbidden from her pose. She heard Jack make a brief speech in his most polite style, though obviously with considerable nervousness. "I want to thank you, Lord Winborough, for so kindly consenting to spare some of your time to sit for me. I know how busy you are, and am more than grateful." The answer came in smooth, even tones. "Indeed, Mr. Hardy, it is a pleasure to be able to assist in any degree so talented and--" At the sound of this voice an icy hand seemed to lay itself upon Evarne's heart, chilling her blood. With parted lips and eyes staring with terror she turned round. There, in the centre of the little group, stood--Morris Kenyon!