Part 24 (1/2)

She rose, compelling him to rise too. Something in the tone and manner of her last speech made him quite unwilling to end their conference, and desperately anxious to speak out everything that was in his mind and try to bring matters to a crisis.

”Don't go for a moment,” he said as she began to move away towards the house. ”I have something to say to you.”

She turned quickly and faced him with a suggestion of displeasure in her eyes. ”What is it?” she said with a touch of impatience.

”Only this,” he answered quietly. ”Have you lost a brooch, Miss Morriston?”

At the question the blood left her cheeks as it had done a little while before; then surged back till her face was suffused.

”A brooch? Yes; I have missed one. Have you found it?” The words were spoken with a calmness which failed to hide the eagerness behind them.

”I think so,” he answered, taking out his letter-case. ”A pearl, set in diamonds mounted on a safety-pin?”

He opened the case and showed it pinned into the soft lining.

”Yes; that is mine,” she said; and for a moment or two by a strange attraction each looked into the other's eyes.

Gifford bent his head over the case as he unfastened the brooch and took it out.

”Where--where did you find it?” Something in the girl's voice made him glad that he was not looking at her.

”In the garden,” he said.

”In the garden?” she repeated. He was looking up now and saw the intense relief in her face. ”To-day?”

”No; last time I was up here. I ought to have taken it to the house at once but--but it was a temptation to me to keep it till I could give it back to you like this. Do forgive me.”

It was plain she divined what he meant, but her cold manner came to the aid of her embarra.s.sment.

”I am only too glad to have it again. I am so glad you found it.”

”So am I,” he responded with a touch of fervour. ”I wish I could relieve your mind of everything else as easily.”

”I am sure you do,” she said wistfully, and impulsively half put out her hand.

He caught it as she was in the act of checking the action and drawing it back. ”You may be sure--quite sure, of my devotion,” he said, and raised her hand to his lips.

An exclamation and a sudden start as the hand was quickly withdrawn made him look up. Edith Morriston's eyes were fixed with something like fear on an object behind him. An intuition told him what it was before he looked round to see Henshaw, with his characteristic, rather stealthy walk, coming towards them.

Gifford set his teeth hard as the two faced round and awaited Henshaw's approach.

”This man shall not annoy you,” he said in an undertone.

”Don't quarrel with him, for heaven's sake,” she entreated in the same tone, under her breath, as the disturbing presence drew near. There was a strange excitement in her voice, though none in the set face.

”I think your brother is looking for you, Miss Morriston,” Henshaw said in his even voice when he was within a dozen paces of them.

”I was just going to look for him,” the girl replied in a voice strangely changed from that in which she had talked with Gifford. ”Isn't it lucky?

Mr. Gifford has picked up in the garden a brooch I lost some days ago. I did not dare to tell d.i.c.k, as it was his gift.”