He had been asked to help him now, and if those ways in which he had wished to help some fellow had seemed impossible, in this case how much more impossible were these circumstances? For to help in this way could only bring the downfall of all Reggie's hopes of promotion, and put off that day when he could tell Gertrude that his home was ready for her. Yet with all these thoughts surging through his brain, Reggie felt that the call of duty had come to him, and to refuse would be to refuse to take up his Cross and follow Christ. As he took four cups of strong black coffee back to the summer-house, he realised that the Cross is the place of suffering and of death. He had scarcely been five minutes on his errand and the little party in the summer-house had neither been added to nor diminished, and hope had brought a little colour back to Mrs. Gray's woe-begone face. A simple straightforwardness was one of Reggie's characteristics. He put a cup of coffee into the manager's hand. "You'd better drink it, Mr. Gray," he said quietly, "it's--it's refreshing, and then if you'd just take Mrs. Gray home--I'm sure she would feel better at home, and the bride has gone, so we can all slip away together. People are beginning to go now." Mrs. Gray hated black coffee, but she drank her cup bravely, and looked all the better for it too. "That stuff is refreshing," said Howard, suddenly, with a nod towards the empty cups, as the four left the summer-house, to make their farewells. "I felt rotten, but I feel as right as a trivet now." Mr. Gray said nothing. He knew perfectly well that he was being helped, and his pride fiercely resented it, but Reggie's three years of quiet faithful work had had its influence, and the clinging touch of Mrs. Gray's hand on his arm softened him, and he said to himself that Reggie had an unbounded cheek, but there was really nothing to wait for any longer, now that the bride had gone. But there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip. The bride's mother, shaking hands and saying pleasant nothings to the first of her departing guests, looked at Mr. Gray reproachfully. "Mr. Gray! you are never going to desert us already! We want our brightest stars to help illumine our darkness. Mrs. Gray feeling ill? Surely, my dear Elaine, you do not need _three_ gentlemen to take you home!" The colour flamed into Mrs. Gray's cheeks. "My husband is taking me home," she said proudly, "Mr. Alston and Mr. Bushman happen to be leaving at the same time." "It _is_ rather early," admitted Mr. Gray. He had caught sight of a fresh tray of glasses going the round of a circle of his acquaintances, and he decided not to be managed any longer, but to do as he chose. "Look here, Elaine!" he said in a low tone, "you let Reggie take you home. I won't be a few minutes, but I must speak to Thornton. I've been looking for him all the afternoon, and it's really important." "I'm sure _you_ are not in a hurry, Howard," said the hostess.