“Parc Gooth had a visit from the Abbotts in their pony-cart, yesterday evening,” Gregson remarked. “Delightful people. We played bridge, and then Miss Abbott accompanied my sister’s Eye-talian in a few songs at the piano, while Abbott and I discussed harnesses and the resemblance between mediaeval witch-craft and modern Psychometry; and it was all so genial and harmonious that I could hardly believe some rumours I have heard at Mr. Wright’s shop----” “Embassy,” Ursula corrected him. “I beg his pardon--in Mr. Wright’s Embassy, that there were once scenes of violence, stabbings and hard words, over the tenancy and rents of Parc Gooth.” “Ah, how sylvan and idyllic,” he murmured affectedly, at the close of Ursula’s description. “How shall I be able to tear myself away, next week, from this pastoral atmosphere?” “You are returning to London next week?” “Friday, yes.” “_Take me with you._” [VI] LOUIS GREGSON, self-confessed as “an Authority upon the Unfair Sex,” was always careful to behave in accordance with his own epigram: “Never be astonished at a woman, unless she says or does what you expect her to do!” Nevertheless, Ursula’s astounding request, dropped in her most gentle and matter-of-fact tones, did indeed tempt him to startled exclamation. For he certainly admired in Ursula the elusive beauty which took at least three meetings to declare itself to the senses. He perceived her, too, to be deep--perhaps he was right--and capable of swift and subtle audacities. In fact, his present state of mind, vulgarly expressed, was such that could hardly believe in its own luck. Nevertheless, taking his cue from her, he substituted mere polished gratification for his first rushed instinct to express himself in terms of raw ardour. “Isn’t he a detestable little cad,” reflected Ursula, listlessly disdainful. She was not very much interested in him. He was handy ... and would not suffer by her whim, when its purpose was revealed. It had so quickly unfurled itself in her secret mind, that it seemed to her now hardly any length of time had elapsed between the moment she realized she was free from loving Doug, to this final irrevocability of “Take me with you” when Louis announced his return to London.