She explained the whole affair. How Phyl had met Silas, how he had persuaded her to get into the phaeton with him, the accident and all the rest. The story as told by Miss Pinckney was quite simple and without any dark patches, and no man, one might fancy, could find cause for offence in it. Miss Pinckney, however, was quite unconscious of the fact that Silas Grangerson had attempted to take Richard Pinckney's life on the night of the Rhetts' dance. To Richard the thought that Phyl should have met Silas only a few hours after that event, talked to him, made friends with him, and got into his carriage was a monstrous thought. He could not understand the business in the least, he could only recognise the fact. Had he known that it was her love for him and her despair at losing him that led her to the act it would have been different. He said nothing for a moment after Miss Pinckney had finished. Having already confessed to her his love for Phyl he was too proud to show his anger against her now. "It was unwise of her," he said at last, turning away to the window and looking out. "Most," replied she, "but you cannot put old heads on young shoulders. Well, there, it's over and done with and there's no more to be said. Well, I must go up and change before luncheon. You are having luncheon here?" "No," said he, "I have to meet a man at the club. I only just ran in to see if you were back." He went off and that day Miss Pinckney and Phyl had luncheon alone. CHAPTER VIII Richard Pinckney, like most people, had the defects of his qualities, but he was different from others in this: his temper was quick and blazing when roused, yet on rare occasions it could hold its heat and smoulder, and keep alive indefinitely. When in this condition he shewed nothing of his feelings except towards the person against whom he was in wrath. Towards them he exhibited the two main characteristics of the North Pole--Distance and Ice. Phyl felt the frost almost immediately. He talked to her just the same as of old but his pleasantness and laughter were gone and he never sought her eye. She knew at once that it was the business with Silas that had caused this change, and she would have been entirely miserable but for the knowledge of two great facts: she was innocent of any disloyalty to him, he had broken off his engagement to Frances Rhett. Instinct told her that he cared for her, Miss Pinckney had told her the same thing. Yet day after day passed without bringing the slightest change in Richard Pinckney. That gentleman after many debates with himself had arrived at the determination against will, against reason, against Love, and against nature to have nothing more to do with Phyl.