Fielding hesitated. "I don't know," he said again. "I have a suspicion that that report was not entirely unfounded. But however that may be, she isn't with him now." "You don't think she is--on board the yacht?" suggested Vera. "No, I don't. The yacht is being done up for a voyage. A beautiful boat from all accounts. He is very proud of her. I am to go over her with him one of these days, when she's ready--which will be soon." Vera uttered a short sigh. "I wish we'd get a yacht, Edward," she said. "Do you? Why?" He was looking at her attentively, a smile in his eyes. She coloured faintly. "I don't know. It's just a fancy, I suppose--a sick fancy. But I believe I could get well much quicker if I went for a voyage like that." "You'd be bored to death," said Fielding. She looked at him through sudden tears. "Bored! With you!" she said. He patted her cheek gently. "Wouldn't you be bored? Quite sure? Suppose we were to borrow that yacht, do you think you'd really like it?" Her eyes shone through the tears. "Of course I should love it!" she said. "Is there--is there any chance of such a thing?" "Every chance," said Fielding. "Saltash most kindly placed her, with the captain and crew, at my disposal only last night." "Oh, Edward! How tremendously kind!" She looked at him with an eagerness that seemed to transform her. "But--but would you like it too? Wouldn't you--wouldn't you feel it was an awful waste of time?" "Waste of time! With you!" smiled Fielding. She lifted his hand with a shy movement and put it to her lips. "Edward--darling, you get dearer every day," she murmured. "What makes you so good to me?" He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I happen to have found out--quite by accident--that I love you, my dear," he said. She smiled at him. "What a happy accident! Then we are really going for that voyage together? What about--Juliet?" "Don't you want Juliet?" he said. "Yes, if she would come. But I have a feeling--I don't know why--that she will not be with us very long. I should be sorry to part with her for we owe her so much. But--somehow she doesn't quite fit, does she? She would be much more suitable as--Lady Saltash for instance." Fielding laughed. "Saltash isn't the only fish in the sea," he remarked. "You are thinking of--Mr. Green?" she questioned, with slight hesitation before the name. "You know, Edward--" she broke off. "Well, my dear?" he said. She turned to him impulsively. "I'm sorry I've not been nicer about that young man. I'm going to try and like him better, just to please you. But, Edward, you wouldn't want Juliet to marry--that sort of man? You don't, do you?" Fielding had stiffened almost imperceptibly. "It doesn't much matter what I want," he said, after a moment. "It doesn't rest with me. Neither Dick nor Juliet are likely to consult my feelings in the matter." "I don't want her to throw herself away--like that," said Vera.