"Tony it must be. Most decidedly Tony." His voice was brisk with decision. The brown eyes brightened in anticipation. "Perhaps even occasionally, `Dear.'" "Oh, no!" Juliet shook her head obstinately. "No `dears'! I've been strictly brought up. I'm shy. _No_ demonstrations in public. I've no brothers, you see, and have led a secluded life." "Yes, yes, there's Phil; you must remember Phil. It was your brother Phil who introduced us at Henley. You were staying with friends." "I _have_ friends near Henley. Their name is Jones. Can you remember Jones? Mr Jones, solicitor; Mrs Jones; Miss Jones; Miss Florence Jones; Mr Reginald Jones, son, junior partner." "Just so. Reginald, of course, is Philip's friend. Phil is, like myself, home on leave. That simplifies things for you. By the by, he is in China, in the Customs." "Poor dear Philip; with all these horrid riots. I _do_ feel anxious about him!" sighed naughty Juliet in response; then, suddenly, "I wonder," she had cried soberly, "if I _ought_! I hate to deceive people, even for their own good. I wonder if I ought to go on." "But surely"--he stared at her in amazement--"it's your _profession_! It would be impossible to do inquiry work if people knew from the beginning what you were about. Why did you--excuse me--choose such a profession if your conscience is so tender?" "I--I didn't realise. It was arranged in a hurry. I don't think I shall take any more cases." "No, don't!" Antony cried eagerly. "It's all right this time, for you have fallen among people who will treat you properly, but it might be so different. Haven't you a home where you can live safely and comfortably?" "Very comfortably indeed, but I happen to be one of the horde of superfluous women who need something more than comfort." Antony looked at her curiously at that, but he had asked no questions. Juliet was thankful for his silence; for the absence of obvious compliments. The situation would be intolerable with a man of another type. With Maplestone one had a comfortable feeling of security--a very comfortable feeling. Juliet fell asleep that night with a smile on her lips. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For three days all went well, the Squire approving, his wife motherly, Antony chivalrous and attentive. Whatever the real experience might be, Juliet was satisfied that pretending to be engaged was an agreeable sensation. Morning and afternoon Antony drove her abroad, sat with her in the rose garden, or escorted her on long walks over the countryside, and soon, wonderfully soon, there was no further need of coaching between them, for the lives of each, and the experiences thereof, the hopes, aspirations, and rebuffs, had been spread as in an opened book before the eyes of the other, with just one reservation on Juliet's side, the disclosure of her own identity!