Piers laughed with his lower lip between his teeth, and Lennox Tudor opened the door and paused upon the threshold. Avery rose to receive him, but his look passed her almost instantly and rested frowningly upon Piers. "Enter the Lord High Executioner!" said Piers flippantly. "Well? Who is the latest victim? And what have you come here for?" The doctor came in. He shook hands with Avery, and turned at once to Piers. "I have come to see my patient," he said aggressively. "Have you?" said Piers. "So have I." He stood up, squaring his broad shoulders. "And I'm coming again--by special invitation." His dark eyes flung a gibe with the words. "Good-bye, Mr. Evesham!" said Avery somewhat pointedly. He turned sharply, and took her extended hand with elaborate courtesy. "Good-bye,--Mrs. Denys!" he said. "I'll come down and see you off," cried Gracie, attaching herself to his free arm. "Ah! Wait a bit!" said Piers. "I haven't said good-bye to the Queen of the fairies yet." He dropped upon one knee by Jeanie's sofa. Her arm slid round his neck. "When will you come again?" she whispered. "When do you hold your next court?" he whispered back. She smiled, her pale face close to his. "I love to see you--always," she said. "Come just any time!" "Shall I?" said Piers. He was looking straight into the tired, blue eyes, and his own were soft with a tenderness that must have charmed any child to utter confidence. She lifted her lips to his. "As often as ever you can," she murmured. He kissed her. "I will. Good-night, my Queen!" "Good-night," she answered softly, "dear Sir Galahad!" Avery had a glimpse of Piers' face as he went away, and she wondered momentarily at the look it wore. CHAPTER X SPORT It was the day before Christmas Eve, and Avery had been shopping. She and Mrs. Lorimer were preparing a Christmas Tree for the children, a secret to which only Jeanie had been admitted. The tree itself was already procured and hidden away in a corner of the fruit cupboard--to which special sanctum Mrs. Lorimer and Avery alone had access. But the numerous gifts and ornaments which they had been manufacturing for weeks were safely stored in a corner of Avery's own room. It was to complete this store that Avery had been down into Rodding that afternoon, and she was returning laden and somewhat wearied. The red light of a cloudy winter sunset lay behind her. Ahead of her, now veiled, now splendidly revealed, there hung a marvellous, glimmering star. A little weight of sadness was dragging at her heart, but she would not give it place or so much as acknowledge its presence. She hummed a carol as she went, stepping lightly through the muddy fields.