Then she drew a low chair towards the stove, and once more the faint color crept into her face as she took up a note.  It was laconic, and requested permission to call at the Grange, but Maud Barrington was not deceived, and recognized the consideration each word had cost the man who wrote it.  Afterwards she glanced at her watch, raised it with a little gesture of impatience to make sure it had not stopped, and sat still, listening to the moaning of the wind, until the door opened and Miss Barrington came in.  She glanced at her niece, who felt that her eyes had noticed each detail of her somewhat unusual dress, but said nothing until the younger woman turned to her.

“They would scarcely come to-night, aunt,” she said.  Miss Barrington, listening a moment, heard the wind that whirled the snow about the lonely building, but smiled incredulously.

“I fancy you are wrong, and I wish my brother were here,” she said.  “We could not refuse Mr. Winston permission to call, but whatever passes between us will have more than its individual significance.  Anything we tacitly promise, the others will agree to, and I feel the responsibility of deciding for Silverdale.”

Miss Barrington went out; but her niece, who understood her smile and that she had received a warning, sat still with a strained expression in her eyes.  The prosperity of Silverdale had been dear to her, but she knew she must let something that was dearer still slip away from her, or, since they must come from her, trample on her pride as she made the first advances.  It seemed a very long while before there was a knocking at the outer door, and she rose with a little quiver when light steps came up the stairway.

In the meanwhile two men stood beside the stove in the hall until an English maid returned to them.

“Colonel Barrington is away, but Miss Barrington, and Miss Maud are at home,” she said.  “Will you go forward into the morning-room when you have taken off your furs?”

“Did you know Barrington was not here?” asked Winston, when the maid moved away.

Dane appeared embarrassed.  “The fact is, I did.”

“Then,” said Winston dryly, “I am a little astonished you did not think fit to tell me.”

Dane’s face flushed, but he laid his hand on his comrade’s arm.  “No,” he said, “I didn’t.  Now, listen to me for the last time, Winston.  I’ve not been blind, you see, and, as I told you, your comrades have decided that they wish you to stay.  Can’t you sink your confounded pride, and take what is offered you?”

Winston shook his grasp off, and there was weariness in his face.  “You need not go through it all again.  I made my decision a long while ago.”

“Well,” said Dane, with a gesture of hopelessness, “I’ve done all I could, and, since you are going on, I’ll look at that trace clip while you tell Miss Barrington.  I mean the younger one.”

“The harness can wait,” said Winston.  “You are coming with me.”