"How late you are," said Stephen who was already dressed for dinner. "I have been anxiously expecting you this last hour!" "I had to go into Beorminster," said Herrick carelessly. "Joyce has been called up to town and I went to see the last of him." "I am glad he has gone," Stephen said gravely. "I don't like him. I think he is false. As for the Mexican---" he shrugged his shoulders. Herrick, who was pouring himself a glass of sherry as an appetizer turned with a laugh. "The Mexican is a bad lot sure enough," he said. "As to Joyce he is more of a fool than a knave." "I forgot that he was your friend." "You do quite right to use the past tense Steve. He _was_ my friend, but he is so no longer." Herrick laughed again and sipped his sherry. "I have taken you for a change." "You know well that I will never fail you," said Stephen warmly. "No. I suppose we shall remain good friends till you marry. Then you will forget me, and think only of your wife." "You know better than that Jim. Besides Ida is fond of you." "I know. I was fond of Ida too at one time--that was before she was engaged to you. But I have not played you false Steve." "You are telling me old news," replied Marsh-Carr smiling. "I saw that you were in love with Ida." "No. I was never in love. I thought I was, but my love was a snare and a delusion. But you thought so did you? Were you not jealous?" "Not at all. I knew that Ida was mine, and I trusted her--you too." "Wonderful man!" said Herrick looking into the fire. "Well you did right to trust us both. We are merely friends now. Indeed I know we never were anything else. I was blind; but she was not. However I am glad that you two are engaged. You will be happy." "And when am I to congratulate you?" "At this very minute if you like. Is it Bess you are talking of?" Stephen sat up on the sofa looking astonished. "Yes," he said, "Ida saw that she was in love with you--" "Ida is a clever woman. She prophesied my love would come suddenly. Bess has not yet formally consented to be my wife; but I think it will be all right." "I am more than delighted. We shall be brothers-in-law. And you will always stay here Jim?" "Living on you my dear fellow? No, I shall start practice again in Town, when I have got together sufficient money. Then when I am doing fairly well Bess shall come to me and supplement my income by writing novels in the intervals of looking after the house." "Herrick you must not go away. You promised." "Until you were married. But be of good cheer Steve, I won't leave you until everything is right." Dr. Jim said these last words with a significance which was lost on his listener. "I thought that your friend Joyce--" "Oh! he never had a chance. I was a fool to let him hang after Bess. However I found out to-day what she was to me, so it is all right now." "Bess and Ida are coming over this evening with Frank."