"In view of that I don't think you're in any way bound to call: I'm not at all sure you ought to. Lord Fillingford's wishes are entitled to great weight--especially while you're living in his house." He was a man now--and a fine specimen of one--but his boyish impetuosity had not left him. "By Jove, I want to go, Austin!" he exclaimed. "Well, I thought that perhaps you did." "I want to go and see her--and I should like to tell her, if I dared, that there's not a man in the service to touch her. I don't mean her driving through Catsford--though she took a risk there; some of those chaps aren't mealy-mouthed. I mean what she's done about this little Miss Octon. That's what I like. Because the girl's her man's daughter, she snaps her fingers at the lot of us! That's what I like, Austin--that's why I want to go and see her. But I couldn't say that to the governor." "You'll never be able to, any better. So you must consider your course. Is it--loyal--to your father?" He knit his brows in perplexity and vexation. "Was I loyal to him that night we went to Hatcham Ford? You didn't make that objection then!" "I don't think I should have taken any objection to anything that gave a chance then. I can look at this more coolly. Why not wait a little? Perhaps Lord Fillingford will come to the conclusion that bygones had best be bygones." "And Aunt Sarah?" "Is that quite so essential?" He sat struggling between his scruples and his strong desire--loyalty to his father, admiration of Jenny and attraction toward her. "I might manage to give her a hint of how you feel--and about the difficulty." "That'd be better than nothing. Then she'd understand----?" "She'd understand the whole position perfectly," I assured him. He was plainly discontented with this compromise, but he accepted it provisionally. "You give her that hint, anyhow, like a good fellow, Austin--and I'll think over the other matter." He rose from his chair. "Now I mustn't keep Gerald Dormer waiting any longer." "Oh, that's Gerald Dormer, is it--the new man at Hingston?" "Yes, he's not a bad fellow--and he doesn't think he is, either." With this passing indication of Mr. Dormer's foible, he led the way out of doors and introduced me to the subject of his remark. Gerald Dormer's manner was cordial and self-satisfied. We stood in talk a minute or two. The news of the holiday and of the feast in our park had reached Dormer, and he laughingly demanded an invitation. "I'm pretty hard up, and nobody gives me a dinner!" he protested. "I'll make a note of your hard case and submit it to Miss Driver. But you're not a Driver employee, you know." "Oh, but I'm quite ready to be--for a good screw, Mr. Austin." "Here she comes, by Jove!" said Lacey in a quick startled whisper.