He received it amicably enough, but conclusively. "No news whatever, my dear Mrs. Britton." She smiled. "We're all rather interested in the mystery. Flora has made a dozen romances about it." "Oh, yes, yes," said the major indulgently. "It will do for young ladies to make romances about. It'll be a two days' wonder, and then you'll suddenly find out it's something very tame indeed." "Why, have they fixed the suspicion?" said Clara. There was a restless movement from Kerr. "No, no, nothing of that sort," said the major quickly. Harry passed his hand through his arm. "May I see you for five minutes, Major?" The excellent major looked harassed. "Suppose we all step up to the house," he suggested. "Why, you're not going, man?" he objected, for Kerr had fallen back a step, and, with lifted hat and balanced cane, was signaling his farewells. "Do let us go up to the house," said Clara. "And Mrs. Purdie, won't you drive up with me? Flora wants to walk." Flora stood up. She had a confused impression that she had expressed no such desire, and that there was room for three in the landau; but the mental shove that Clara had administered gave her an impetus that carried her out of the carriage before she realized what she was about. Some one had offered a hand to help her, and when she was on the ground she saw it was Kerr, who had come back and was standing beside her. He was smiling quizzically. "I feel rather like walking, myself," he said. "Do you want a companion?" She turned to him with gratitude. "I should be glad of one," she said quickly. She was touched. She had not thought he could be so gentle. Harry was already moving off up the board walk with the major. The carriage was turning. Kerr looked at the backs of the two women being driven away, and then at Flora. "Very good," he said, raising her parasol; "you are the deposed heir, and I am your faithful servant." "But indeed I do want to walk," she protested, a little shy at the way he read her case. "But you didn't think of it until she gave you the suggestion, eh?" he quizzed. "She probably had something to say to Mrs. Purdie that--" "My dear child," he caught her up earnestly, "don't think I'm criticizing your friend's motive. I am only saying I saw something done that was not pretty, though really, if you will forgive me--it was very funny." Flora smiled ruefully. "It must have been--absurd. I am afraid I often am. But what else could I have done?" He seemed to ponder a moment. "I fancy _you_ couldn't have done anything different. That's why I came back for you," he volunteered gaily.