He begged me not to enlighten Phyllida, as he wished to leave her entirely free. Which I thought a most proper attitude, not extravagantly common in the youth of the present day. In my efforts to help him I exposed myself to an unhappy misconception, for Phyllida persuaded first herself and then the family that I had scotched her romance with some crazy idea of securing her for my boy Will. It was always on the tip of my tongue to say that she seemed very certain of him. Goodness me, if Will had _wanted_ her... I have never wholly approved of cousin-marriages; and I looked with something like dismay on their growing intimacy. That was later, of course; at first she was like a demented creature, saying the wildest and wickedest things. Do you know that she charged me with trying to keep my brother-in-law from getting a divorce--so that there should be no possibility of an heir, so that in time Arthur or Will should inherit Cheniston and the title? These are not the fancies of a _balanced_ mind, and it was then that I urged Brackenbury to send her _right_ away. Failing that, I asked him to entrust her to me for a while in the hopes that I might turn her thoughts. Her loyalty to Colonel Butler I _admired_, but there is a danger that love may develop into an obsession... That was the time when I became so nervous about Will. _She_ was listless and unhappy, he was sympathetic; a dangerous combination! They had actually, I believe, reached what is called an understanding, when Phyllida learned by chance that Colonel Butler was alive and working in London; and this, I am thankful to say, turned her attention from Will. You were not present, I think, at the great meeting? No, I remember you were away; it was one night when the princess honoured me by dining to meet a few old friends. I gave a little impromptu dance afterwards to some of the officers in Spenworth's old regiment, not remembering that Hilary Butler was of the number; Phyllida was dining, and they met... After that, it was a foregone conclusion. Every day when I opened my letters or looked at the paper, I expected to read the announcement. You may judge of my misgivings when my sister-in-law Ruth invited me most urgently to come for the week-end to the Hall and to bring Will with me. I have told you that there was _some_ sort of understanding: if Hilary disappeared from human ken, Phyllida would marry Will--something of that kind; she was such a little picture of misery that, if _some_ one had not shewn her a little kindness, I truly honestly believe that she would have wilted away. I was in dread that she would come up and say: "Aunt Ann, Will and I are going to be married"... _That_ is why I searched the "Times" so diligently... It would be a suitable marriage in some ways: she _has_ money... But I could never regard it as satisfactory. The moment I could get a word alone with my sister-in-law, I asked her whether they had seen anything of Colonel Butler.