Her ladyship chuckled happily. "Now we must use common sense; there must not be a flaw in the whole affair. If she agrees to marry you, I will begin to arrange the situation at once. I will bring her out more and present her to people--and we will not announce the engagement for a few weeks. No one will dare to question who she is, or where she came from if I choose to do that. Some of them may even suggest that she is the result of some past indiscretion of one of the family that I have adopted. They may think what they like! She is so absolutely honest, she would tell anyone the truth herself without a care--but I think I shall advise her to be silent, and let people make up what they please. No one can dispute her perfect refinement or suitability to take any position in the world." "Seraphim, you are an angel." "No, I am not--I am merely a capable craftsman. I like to do everything I undertake well. Your Duchess shall start unhandicapped." "How deep is my gratitude, dear friend!" "Tut, tut!" But her dark eyes beamed mistily. "When I see you safely off--with the knot tied, on your way to Valfreyne for the honeymoon--I shall feel content." "Where is she?" "I told her to go and rest under the chestnuts this afternoon. She looked as pale as a ghost." "May I find her there, then, now?" "Yes--be off! And bless you!" They wrung hands, and the Duke strode away looking, as Her Ladyship admitted, with a fond half-sigh, still the hero of any woman's dream. His years sat so lightly upon him. But he searched under the chestnuts and beyond, and Katherine was nowhere to be seen. A rug was folded beneath one great trunk--she had evidently been there, and had now wandered on and perhaps was not far off. He continued his search for some time without success, and when he reached the edge of the near woods, with their beautiful paths, some of which ran down to a bit of ornamental water just big enough to be called a lake, he stopped, puzzled as to which one to follow. His heart was beating as it had not beat for years. He decided to go straight to the water's edge to a Chinese tea-house which was there, and when he came at length in sight of this, he perceived the flutter of a grey linen skirt disappearing round the corner of it--On the verandah which overhung the water, there were great white water lilies growing in masses just beneath, while two stately swans swam about in the distance; the sun was sinking, it was past six o'clock; and the lights were very lovely and all was serene and still. His footfalls did not sound on the soft turf, and Katherine did not know of his approach until he actually stood before her on the broad verandah step. She was leaning against the balustrade gazing out over the lake, and she turned and caught sight of him. He came forward with outstretched hands, his face aglow. "So I have found you at last!" he cried, gladly. "What made you hide away here all alone?"