“Oh, not quite as bad as that, I hope,” said Riatt.

“Lost,” she repeated, and leaning over she laid one polished finger tip on the bell.  “When the man comes, tell him to get you ready for that early train.”

There was complete silence between them until the footman appeared and Riatt had given the necessary orders.

“I wonder,” he said when they were again alone, “whether I shall be angry at you for this advice, or grateful.  It’s a dangerous thing, you know, to advise a man to run away.”

“Dine with me in town on Wednesday, and you can tell me which it is.”

“You don’t seem to be much afraid of my anger.”

“I think perhaps your gratitude might be the more dangerous of the two.”

While he was struggling between a new-found prudence, and a natural desire to inquire further into her meaning, a door upstairs was heard to shut, and presently Laura Ussher came sauntering into the room.

“You’re up early, Nancy,” she said pleasantly.

“I thought I ought to recognize the return of the wanderers in some way—­particularly, as I hear we are to lose one of them so soon.”

Mrs. Ussher glanced quickly at her cousin.  “Are you leaving us, Max?”

“I’m sorry to say I’ve just had word that I must, and I told the man to make arrangements for me to get that twelve-something-or-other train.”

Mrs. Ussher did not change a muscle.  “I’m sorry you have to go,” she said.  “We shall all miss you.  By the way, you won’t be able to get anything before the four-eighteen.  That midday train is taken off in winter.  Didn’t the footman tell you?  Stupid young man; but he’s new and has not learnt the trains yet, I suppose.  Do you want to send a telegram?  They have to be telephoned here, but if you write it out I’ll have it sent for you.”

“How wonderful you are, Laura,” murmured Mrs. Almar.

Mrs. Ussher looked vague.  “In what way, dear?”

“In all ways, but I think it’s as a friend that I admire you most.”

Mrs. Ussher smiled.  “Yes,” she said, “I’m very devoted to my friends even when they don’t behave quite fairly to me.  But I love my relations, too,” she added.  “Max, since I’m to lose you so soon, I’d like to have a talk with you before lunch.  Shall we go to my little study?”

Nancy’s eyes danced.  “No, Laura,” she said, “he will not.  He has just promised to teach me a new solitaire, and I won’t yield him to any one.”

Riatt, terrified at this proof that Nancy’s prophecy was coming true, resolved to cling to her.

“Sit down and learn the game, too, Laura,” he said.  “It’s a very good one.”

“I want to speak to you about a business matter, Max.”

“I never attend to business during church hours, Laura,” he answered.  “We’ll talk about it after lunch, if you like.”

Laura had learnt the art of yielding gracefully.  “That will do just as well,” she said, and sat down to watch the game.