"As Mrs. Nairn tells me you are going to England, I suppose we shall not see you in Vancouver for some months," she said presently. "This city really isn't a bad place to live in." Vane felt gratified. She implied that he would be an acquisition and included him among the number of her acquaintances. "I fancy I shall find it a particularly pleasant one," he responded. "Indeed, I'm inclined to be sorry I've made arrangements to leave it very shortly." "That is pure good-nature," his companion laughed. She changed the subject, and Vane found her conversation entertaining. She said nothing of any consequence, but she knew how to make a glance or a changed inflection expressive. He was sorry when she left him, but she smiled at him before she moved away. "If you and Mr. Carroll care to call, I am generally at home in the afternoon," she said. She crossed the room, and Vane, who joined Nairn, remained near him until he took his departure. It was late the next afternoon, and an Empress liner from China and Japan had arrived an hour or two earlier, when he and Carroll reached the C.P.R. station. The Atlantic train was waiting, and an unusual number of passengers were hurrying about the cars. They were, for the most part, prosperous people, business men and tourists from England, going home that way, and when Vane found Mrs. Marvin and Kitty, he was once more conscious of a stirring of compassion. Kitty smiled at him diffidently. "You have been so kind," she began, and, pausing, added with a tremor in her voice: "But the tickets----" "Pshaw!" said Vane. "If it will ease your mind, you can send me what they cost after the first full house you draw." "How shall we address you?" "Clermont Mineral Exploitation. I don't want to think I'm going to lose sight of you." Kitty turned away from him a moment, and then looked back. "I'm afraid you must make up your mind to that," she said. Vane could not remember his answer, though he afterwards tried; but just then an official strode along beside the cars calling to the passengers, and when a bell began tolling Vane hurried the girl and her companions on to a platform. Mrs. Marvin entered the car, Elsie held up her face to kiss him before she disappeared, and he and Kitty were left alone. She held out her hand, and a liquid gleam crept into her eyes. "We can't thank you properly," she said. "Good-bye." "No," Vane protested. "You mustn't say that." "Yes," said Kitty firmly. "It's good-bye. You'll be carried on in a moment." Vane gazed down at her, and afterwards wondered at what he did; but she looked so forlorn and desolate, and the pretty face was so close to him. Stooping swiftly, he kissed her, and had a thrilling fancy that she did not recoil; then the cars lurched forward, and he swung himself down. CHAPTER V THE OLD COUNTRY. A month had passed since Vane said good-bye to Kitty, when he and Carroll alighted one evening at a little station in the north of England.