“You haven’t thought of anything?” asked her husband.

“Not yet,” replied his wife.

“I suppose you wouldn’t care to go into an office?” he continued.

“A lot of girls do that kind of thing nowadays,” said Mavis.

“Or a shop?” put in Miss Spraggs.

Mavis glanced up.

“I mean a—­flower shop,” corrected Miss Spraggs, misliking the look in Mavis’s yellow eyes.

Mavis looked towards where she could have seen her old home but for the intervening trees.

“I think I’d better see about my train,” she said as she rose.

“Must you, dear?” asked Mrs Devitt.

The men pressed her to stay, particularly Lowther.

“I think I’ll go.  I want to get back in good time,” said Mavis.

“I’ll drive you to the station, if I may,” volunteered Lowther.

“Thank you; if it’s giving you no trouble,” she replied.

Lowther left the room.  Mavis said good-bye to the others, including Victoria, who joined her for this purpose, from whom the girl learned that Harold was asleep.

As Devitt conducted Mavis to the door, which the fat butler held open, she heard the snorting of a motor; the next minute, a superb car, driven by Lowther, pulled up before the front door.  Mavis had never before been in a petrol-propelled carriage (automobiles were then coming into use); she looked forward to her new experience.

She got in beside Lowther, waved her hand to Devitt and was gone.  She was surprised at the swift, easy motion, but had an idea that, soon after they left the house, Lowther Devitt was not travelling so fast as when they set out.

“How delightful!” she cried.

“Eh!”

“I’ve never been in a motor before.”

“What?”

“I really haven’t.  Don’t talk:  I want to enjoy it.”

Seeing that the girl was disinclined for speech, he increased the pace.  Mavis was quite disappointed at the short time it took to reach the station.  They got out, when Mavis learned that she had twenty minutes to wait.  She was sorry, as she disliked the ardent way in which Lowther looked at her.  She answered his remarks in monosyllables.

“I’m afraid you’re no end angry with me,” he said presently.

“Why?” she said coldly.

“Because I punished Jill for disobedience.”

“It was cruel of you.”

“I made sure she was worrying you.”

“Indeed!”

“But it was almost worth while to upset you, you looked so fine when you were angry.”

“Did it frighten you?” she asked half scornfully.

“Almost.  You looked just like a young tigress.”

“I’ve been told that before.”

“Then you often get angry?”

“If I’m annoyed.  But it’s soon over.”

“I go up to town sometimes,” he said presently.

“How clever of you!”

“I go up to my club—­the Junior Constitutional.  May I look you up when I run up next?”