At this moment Denis and Leonetta came up the steps and were greeted by the party at the card-table. "Oh, my dear, how hot you look!" cried Mrs. Delarayne to her daughter. "Yes, we've been stepping it out a bit, because I wanted to get home." Mrs. Delarayne noticed that her child was badly dishevelled, and that there was an unusually fiery glint in her eyes. "What have you young people been doing all this time?" Miss Mallowcoid enquired in her most roguish manner. "As a matter of fact we tried to reach Headlinge, and failed," said Denis, looking a trifle pale in spite of his tanned skin. "I should have thought you could have gone there and back again twice over in the time," said Mrs. Delarayne, scrutinising her daughter with care. "Well, we didn't," said Leonetta decisively. "Had too much to say to each other on the way," Miss Mallowcoid interjected with a coy smile. "Where's Agatha?" Denis demanded. "She and Stephen have walked home; they were feeling tired." "And Lord Henry?" Leonetta asked. "He's gone off with my girl," said Sir Joseph with mock bitterness. * * * * * The following day broke colder and more overcast than any that the Brineweald party had had since they left London. The programme had therefore to be modified accordingly, and picnics and excursions declared out of the question. In the morning the beach was visited as usual, and Lord Henry showed himself to be, among other things, an excellent swimmer. Cleopatra had joined the beach party though she had not bathed, but while everyone noticed that she was looking very much better, it was also observed that she had not her customary spirits. She no longer vied with Leonetta in leading the entertainment of the party, and was particularly and conspicuously subdued and laconic whenever Lord Henry addressed her. At lunch, which was taken at "The Fastness," Lord Henry thoroughly exasperated Miss Mallowcoid by inviting the Tribes to join him on his journey to China, and roused considerable interest by describing the plan of his mission to that country. It was evident that he would require a party of helpers, and Mrs. Tribe was most eager to be of their number. The Incandescent Gerald, however, gravely shook his head. "Of course not,--how can you be so silly, Agnes!" Miss Mallowcoid exclaimed. "Gerald has his religious duties here." Lord Henry saw that Mrs. Tribe did not dare to reply herself, so he replied for her. "It only remains for me to convince Mr. Tribe, then," he said, "that in following me to China he would be performing a very lofty religious duty." "I'd go like a shot!" cried Stephen. "So would I!" echoed Guy Tyrrell. In the afternoon Sir Joseph asked Denis to spend a moment with him over his correspondence, and seizing the opportunity as the others were playing tennis, Lord Henry invited Leonetta and her sister to go with him to Headstone to look at Sir Joseph's prize cattle there.