After deep thought Philippa has made up her mind to tell no one, of all she has heard and of all that has happened in consequence.  She can rely on Ponsonby keeping secret the little he knows of it; but what is hardest to bear is the having nothing to look forward to, for the future looks, oh, so dark and dreary.  Sometimes she feels that it cannot be true, and she shrinks with horror from the remembrance of the fate that may be awaiting her.  But Mabel does not notice that something has changed her; that her step is not so light as it was, or her laugh so gay.  How little we know of each other, although living the same lives, seeing the same people and things; we have all got an inner existence which no one but ourselves knows anything about, it is so shadowy and unreal, that contact with the outer world would crush all the beauty and poetry of it.

‘I think we might go to the sea somewhere,’ says Mrs Seaton, one day as she and Philippa are sitting together under the trees in the park, while Teddy is hunting for caterpillars, ’it is really too unutterably dull here, and it would do that boy good to have a change, what do you say to a fortnight or three weeks at Folkestone?’

‘It would be very nice, I should think,’ replies Lippa, who is watching the ungainly not to say peculiar movements, of a stout elderly female who is taking equestrian exercise.

‘We could get rooms at an hotel,’ goes on Mabel, ’you know some cousins of mine are there; and George said that I might do anything I liked, while he’s up in Scotland; do you really think it would be nice?’

‘Yes, I do,’ Lippa replies, feeling that one place is the same to her as another.  The stout elderly female has bumped away, and she is staring straight in front of her, when suddenly the colour rushes to her face leaving it whiter than it was before.

‘Why, there’s Jimmy Dalrymple,’ says Mabel, ’and I do believe he’s not going to see us.  I really think he might, it would be quite refreshing to talk to somebody else besides you—­’

‘Am I such a dull companion then?’

Mabel laughs good-naturedly.

There is not any doubt that Dalrymple will see them, for Master Seaton has observed him and rushing to the railings gesticulates violently, and the former attracted by some magnetic influence turns, hesitates for a moment and then crosses over.

’So glad to see you.  Lippa and I were so afraid you were going to cut us,’ says the unsuspecting Mabel.  ‘What are you doing in London now?’

‘I have to be up at the barracks,’ says he.

‘Come and sit here, do, and tell us some news,’ says she motioning him to the chair at her side.

Philippa has become deeply interested in one of her nephew’s caterpillars, and beyond extending him a limp hand; pays no attention to Dalrymple, but her outward calm hides the tumult within, for her heart is throbbing violently.

At any other time and under any other circumstances, Dalrymple would be very willing to spend any length of time with Mabel, for he is very fond of pretty little Mrs Seaton and carrying on a mild flirtation with her would be the reverse of unpleasant to him, but to be so near the object of his affection, no, he couldn’t do it, so excusing himself he raises his hat and passes on.