Compelled, in spite of herself, by his insistence, Sara reluctantly assented and, leaving him, made her way slowly back to the others.

A disjointed buzz of talk sprayed up against her ears.  Every one rushed into conversation, making valiant, if quite fruitless efforts to behave as though nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, while, a little apart from the main group, Elisabeth stood alone.

Meanwhile Trent sought out his hostess, and together they moved away, pausing at last beneath the canopy of trees.

“No words can quite meet what has just occurred,” he said formally.  “I can only express my regret that my presence here should have occasioned such a contretemps.”

Although the whole brief scene had been utterly incomprehensible to her, Audrey intuitively sensed the bitter hurt underlying the harshly spoken words, and the outraged hostess was instantly submerged in the friend.

“I am so sorry about it, Garth,” she said gently, “although, of course, I don’t understand Mrs. Durward’s behaviour.”

“That is very kind of you!” he replied, his voice softening.  “But please do not visit your very natural indignation upon Mrs. Durward.  I alone am to blame, I ought never to have renounced my role of hermit.  Unfortunately”—­with a brief smile of such sadness that Audrey felt her heart go out to him in a sudden rush of sympathy—­“my mere presence is an abuse of my friends’ hospitality.”

“No, no!” she exclaimed quickly.  “We are all glad to have you with us—­we were so pleased when—­when at last you came out of your shell, Garth”—­with a faint smile.

“Still the fact remains that I am outside the social pale.  I had no business to thrust myself in amongst you.  However—­after this—­you may rest assured that I shan’t offend again.”

“I decline to rest assured of anything of the kind,” asserted Audrey with determination.  “Don’t be such a fool, Garth—­or so unfair to your friends.  Just because you chance to have met a women who, for some reason, chooses to cut you, doesn’t alter our friendship for you in the very least.  What Mrs. Durward may have against you I don’t know—­and I don’t care either. I have nothing against you, and I don’t propose to give any pal of mine the go-by because some one else happens to have quarreled with him.”

Trent’s eyes were curiously soft as he answered her.

“Thank you for that,” he said earnestly.  “All the same, I think you will have to make up your mind to allow your—­friend, as you are good enough to call me, to go to the wall.  You, and others like you, dragged him out, but, believe me, his place is not in the centre of the room.  There are others besides Mrs. Durward who would give you the reason why, if you care to know it.”

“I don’t care to know it,” responded Audrey firmly.  “In fact, I should decline to recognize any reason against my calling you friend.  I don’t intend to let you go, nor will Miles, you’ll find.”