I will send the car for Gwendolen to-morrow at ten o'clock, and meanwhile will you spare her feelings and make no reference to what has taken place? The poor child is feeling very sore and very much ashamed of all the fuss, but feels that she is doing the right thing--at last. "Yours ever, "MARIAN POTTEN." Lady Dashwood folded up the letter and put it back into its envelope. She avoided looking at May just now. "Marian must feel very strongly on the subject to offer to send her own car," she said. "I have never known her do such a thing before," and Lady Dashwood smiled and looked at the fire. "So the whole thing is over! But how did it all come about? What happened? I've been thinking over every possible accident that could have happened to make Gwen change her mind in this sudden way, and I am still in the dark," she went on. "Do you think that Gwendolen had any misgivings about her engagement when she left this house after lunch, May? I'm sure she hadn't." Here Lady Dashwood paused and looked towards May but not at her. "It all happened at Potten End! I'm certain of it," she added. May, having at last completely drawn off both her gloves, was folding and unfolding them with unsteady hands. "It's a mystery," said May. "But I don't care what happened!" said Lady Dashwood, solemnly; "I don't really want to know. It is over! I can't rest, I can't read, I can't think coherently. I can only be thankful--thankful beyond words." May walked slowly in the direction of the door. "Yes, all your troubles are over," she said. "Do you remember, May," went on Lady Dashwood, "how you and I stood together just here, under the portrait, when you arrived on Monday? Well, all that torment is over. All that happened between then and now has been wiped clean out, as if it had never been." But all had not been wiped out. Some of what happened had been written down in May's mind and couldn't be wiped out. "Don't go this moment; sit down for a little, before you go and dress," said Lady Dashwood, "and I'll try and sit, for I must talk, I must talk, and, May dear, you must listen. Come back, dear!" Lady Dashwood sat down on one side of the fireplace and looked at May, as she came back and seated herself on the opposite side. There was the fireplace between them. "Aren't you glad?" asked Lady Dashwood. "Aren't you glad, May?" "I am very glad," said May. "I rejoice--in your joy." Lady Dashwood leaned back in her chair, and let her eyes rest on May's face.