“Thursday, at latest, if you can really put up with me for a little longer. I’ll try to get through to you to-morrow; I shall know better then.” “Meanwhile I shall have Sybil to myself for a couple of days. On the whole, I think I’m glad you’re going, Edward!” Kean laughed. “Make her behave herself, and if that minx, Cynthia, arrives in the middle of the night, as she no doubt will, keep her out of Sybil’s room, will you? They haven’t met for at least a month and she’ll want to tell her the story of her life.” “You must admit that it’s a good story,” murmured Lady Kean from the depths of the big chair. “It will keep,” said her husband dryly, “till breakfast to-morrow morning. I must go now, if I’m to catch the five-forty.” “What time do you get in?” asked his wife as he bent over her. “Six-twenty to-morrow morning. A barbarous time.” “Make them give you a good breakfast before you go on to Chambers.” “You’ll be all right?” Fayre heard him murmur. “Of course. Run now, or you’ll miss it. I wish it wasn’t such a vile day. Listen to the wind!” “Excellent weather for traveling. Good-by.” He was gone, and soon afterwards Lady Kean disappeared with her hostess and Fayre was taken off by Lord Staveley to the billiard-room. After dinner that night he gravitated as usual to Sybil Kean’s side. For a long time they discussed old friends and Fayre gradually became well posted in all that had happened during his absence. “Tell me about Cynthia,” he said at last. “What _is_ she like now. You’ve all been rather mysterious about her, you know.” Sybil Kean glanced at him. There was the same spark of amusement in her eyes that he had surprised in Lady Staveley’s. “I wonder how you’ll like her,” she said thoughtfully. “I believe you _are_ rather old-fashioned, Hatter. She’s a very perfect specimen of the modern girl, plus extreme good looks and a charm that’s quite her own. She manages her elders perfectly, when she takes the trouble; when she doesn’t, she just goes her own way and entirely ignores us.” “She sounds a minx,” remarked Fayre dryly. “Oh, no, she isn’t! Besides, there are no minxes nowadays, my dear. She’s very affectionate, very loyal, and with an excellent head on her shoulders. When I say she ignores us, I simply mean that she considers her own judgment quite as good as ours and goes by it. I’m not at all sure she isn’t right.” “Which means that she’ll ride for a fall one of these days and get it and then her elders will have to pick her up and see to the damage.” Lady Kean’s eyes were very thoughtful. “I wonder. The new generation is better able to look after itself than any of us are willing to admit. If she does come a toss, which is more than possible, I’m inclined to think she will pick herself up and say nothing about it. She’s got more grit than I ever had, Hatter.” “Nonsense!” Fayre began explosively; but she interrupted him.