‘This afternoon, then,’ the voice was murmuring.

She answered mechanically.  ‘It’s going to rain, I think.’

‘I think not.  But, if so, to-morrow.’

‘To-morrow is Sunday.’

‘Yes.  Monday, then.’

Nancy heard him smother a laugh.  She wished to look at him, but could not.

‘It won’t rain,’ he continued, still with the ease of one who speaks of everyday matters.  ’We shall see, at all events.  Perhaps you will want to change your book at the library.’  A novel lay on her lap.  ’We’ll leave it an open possibility—­to meet there about three o’clock.’

Nancy pointed out to sea, and asked where the steamer just passing might be bound for.  Her companion readily turned to this subject.

The rain—­she half hoped for it—­did not come.  By luncheon-time every doubtful cloud had vanished.  Before sitting down to table, she observed the sky at the open window.

‘Lovely weather!’ sighed Mrs. Morgan behind her.  ’But for you, dear Nancy, I should have been dreaming and wishing—­oh, how vainly!—­ in the stifling town.’

‘We’ll have another drive this afternoon,’ Nancy declared.

‘Oh, how delightful!  But pray, pray, not on our account—­’

’Jessica,’—­Nancy turned to her friend, who had just entered the room,—­’we’ll have the carriage at three.  And a better horse than last time; I’ll take good care of that.  Pen, ink, and paper!’ she cried joyously.  ‘The note shall go round at once.’

‘You’re a magnificent sort of person,’ said Jessica.  ’Some day, no doubt, you’ll keep a carriage and pair of your own.’

’Shan’t I, just!  And drive you down to Burlington House, for your exams.  By-the-bye, does a female Bachelor of Arts lose her degree if she gets married?’

Nancy was sprightlier than of late.  Her mood maintained itself throughout the first half of the drive, then she seemed to be overcome by a sudden weariness, ceased to talk, and gave only a listless look at things which interested her companions.  By when they reached home again, she had a pale troubled countenance.  Until dinner nothing more was seen of her, and after the meal she soon excused herself on the plea of a headache.

Again there passed two days, Sunday and Monday, without Tarrant’s appearing.  Mrs. Morgan and Jessica privately talked much of the circumstance.  Sentimental souls, they found this topic inexhaustible; Jessica, having her mind thus drawn away from Burlington House, benefited not a little by the mystery of her friend’s position; she thought, however, that Nancy might have practised a less severe reticence.  To Mrs. Morgan it never occurred that so self-reliant a young woman as Miss.  Lord stood in need of matronly counsel, of strict chaperonage; she would have deemed it an impertinence to allow herself the most innocent remark implying such a supposition.