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hobby； born of his useless condition； a taste ministered to； without
doubt； by the occupation of his earlier life。 Once or twice lately
they have had reason to change their minds。 You know； I dare say；
in what a terribly disturbed state European affairs are just now。
Well； my friend had an idea that Mr。 Fentolin was showing an
extraordinary amount of interest in a certain conference which we
understand is to take place at The Hague。 He begged me to come down；
and to watch your uncle while I was down here； and report to him
anything that seemed to me noteworthy。 Since then I have had a
message from him concerning the American whom you entertained … Mr。
John P。 Dunster。 It appears that he was the bearer of very important
dispatches for the Continent。〃
〃But he has gone；〃 she said quickly。 〃Nothing happened to him；
after all。 He went away without a word of complaint。 We all saw
him。〃
〃That is quite true；〃 Hamel admitted。 〃Mr。 Dunster has certainly
gone。 It is rather a coincidence； however； that he should have
taken his departure just as the enquiries concerning his whereabouts
had reached such a stage that it had become quite impossible to keep
him concealed any longer。〃
She turned a little in her place and looked at him steadfastly。
〃Mr。 Hamel；〃 she said； 〃tell me … what of your mission？ You have
had an opportunity of studying my uncle。 You have even lived under
his roof。 Tell me what you think。〃
His face was troubled。
〃Miss Fentolin；〃 he said； 〃I will tell you frankly that up to now
I have not succeeded in solving the problem of your uncle's
character。 To me personally he has been most courteous。 He lives
apparently a studious and an unselfish life。 I have heard him even
spoken of as a philanthropist。 And yet you three … you； your mother；
and your brother； who are nearest to him； who live in his house and
under his protection； have the air of passing your days in mortal
fear of him。〃
〃Mr。 Hamel；〃 she exclaimed nervously； 〃you don't believe that！ He
is always very kind。〃
〃Apparently；〃 Hamel observed drily。 〃And yet you must remember that
you； too； are afraid of him。 I need not remind you of our
conversations； but there the truth is。 You praise his virtues and
his charities； you pity him； and yet you go about with a load of
fear； and … forgive me … of secret terror in your heart； you and
Gerald； too。 As for your mother …〃
〃Don't！〃 she interrupted suddenly。 〃Why do you bring me here to
talk like this？ You cannot alter things。 Nothing can be altered。〃
〃Can't it！〃 he replied。 〃Well； I will tell you the real reason of
my having brought you here and of my having made this confession。
I brought you here because I could not bear to go on living； if not
under your roof； at any rate in the neighbourhood； without telling
you the truth。 Now you know it。 I am here to watch Mr。 Fentolin。
I am going on watching him。 You can put him on his guard； if you
like； I shan't complain。 Or you can …〃
He paused so long that she looked at him。 He moved a little closer
to her； his fingers suddenly gripped her hand。
〃Or you can marry me and come away from it all；〃 he concluded
quietly。 〃Forgive me； please … I mean it。〃
For a moment the startled light in her eyes was followed by a
delicious softness。 Her lips were parted； she leaned a little
towards him。 Then suddenly she seemed to remember。 She rose with
swift alertness to her feet。
〃I think；〃 she said； 〃that we had better play golf。〃
〃But I have asked you to marry me；〃 he protested； as he scrambled up。
〃Your caddy has found your ball a long time ago；〃 she pointed out；
walking swiftly on ahead。
He played his shot and caught her up。
〃Miss Fentolin … Esther；〃 he pleaded eagerly； 〃do you think that I
am not in earnest？ Because I am。 I mean it。 Even if I have only
known you for a few days； it has been enough。 I think that I knew
it was coming from the moment that you stepped into my railway
carriage。〃
〃You knew that what was coming？〃 she asked； raising her eyes
suddenly。
〃That I should care for you。〃
〃It's the first time you've told me she reminded him； with a queer
little smile。 〃Oh； forgive me； please！ I didn't mean to say that。
I don't want to have you tell me so。 It's all too ridiculous and
impossible。〃
〃Is it？ And why？〃
〃I have only known you for three days。〃
〃We can make up for that。〃
〃But I don't … care about you。 I have never thought of any one in
that way。 It is absurd；〃 she went on。
〃You'll have to； sometime or other；〃 he declared。 〃I'll take you
travelling with me； show you the world； new worlds； unnamed rivers；
untrodden mountains。 Or do you want to go and see where the little
brown people live among the mimosa and the cherry blossoms？ I'll
take you so far away that this place and this life will seem like
a dream。〃
Her breath caught a little。
〃Don't； please；〃 she begged。 〃You know very well … or rather you
don't know； perhaps； but I must tell you … that I couldn't。 I am
here； tied and bound； and I can't escape。〃
〃Ah！ dear； don't believe it；〃 he went on earnestly。 〃There isn't
any bond so strong that I won't break it for you； no knot I won't
untie； if you give me the right。〃
They were climbing slowly on to the tee。 He stepped forward and
pulled her up。 Her hand was cold。 Her eyes were raised to his；
very softly yet almost pleadingly。
〃Please don't say anything more；〃 she begged。 〃I can't … quite bear
it just now。 You know； you must remember … there is my mother。 Do
you think that I could leave her to struggle alone？〃
His caddy； who had teed the ball； and who had regarded the
proceedings with a moderately tolerant air； felt called upon at last
to interfere。
〃We'd best get on；〃 he remarked； pointing to two figures in the
distance； 〃or they'll say we've cut in。〃
Hamel smote his ball far and true。 On a more moderate scale she
followed his example。 They descended the steps together。
〃Love…making isn't going to spoil our golf；〃 he whispered； smiling；
as he touched her fingers once more。
She looked at him almost shyly。
〃Is this love…making？〃 she asked。
They walked together from the eighteenth green towards the
club…house。 A curious silence seemed suddenly to have enveloped
them。 Hamel was conscious of a strange exhilaration； a queer
upheaval of ideas； an excitement which nothing in his previous
life had yet been able to yield him。 The wonder of it amazed him；
kept him silent。 It was not until they reached the steps； indeed；
that he spoke。
〃On our way home …〃 he began。
She seemed suddenly to have stiffened。 He looked at her； surprised。
She was standing quite still； her hand gripping the post； her eyes
fixed upon the waiting motor…car。 The delicate softness had gone
from her face。 Once more that look of partly veiled suffering was
there； suffering mingled with fear。
〃Look！〃 she whispered； under her breath。 〃Look！ It is Mr。 Fentolin！
He has come for us himself； he is there in the car。〃
Mr。 Fentolin； a strange little figure lying back among the cushions
of the great Daimler； raised his hat and waved it to them。
〃Come along； children；〃 he cr