That's all."
His smile deepened as he glanced across at Beatrice, but there was no
response on her grave face. She half turned away from him, and for the
first time he thought that the climate was telling on her. She looked
white and harassed.
CHAPTER XIV
IN WHICH MANY THINGS ARE BROKEN
"I can't think what is making Captain Stafford so late," Lois said to
Mrs. Carmichael, who was, as usual, knitting at some unrecognizable
garment destined for a far-off London slum. "I wonder if he has
forgotten that to-day is the tournament, and that he promised to fetch
me."
"I hardly think he has forgotten the tournament," Travers remarked
carelessly. "He was speaking about it to Miss Cary this morning. I
expect he will be around soon--and if he fails, will I do instead?"
He looked at her with such a pleasant frankness in his eyes that any
awkwardness she might have felt became impossible, and she could only
smile back at him, grateful for the unchanged friendship which he had
retained for her.
"Of course you will do!" she said gaily. "But I must give him a few
minutes' grace. It has only just struck four o'clock."
The Colonel looked around. He had come in five minutes before, hot and
tired from a long ride of inspection, and his family, knowing his
small peculiarities, had allowed him to get over his first exhaustion
undisturbed.
"I shouldn't wait too long, little girl," he said, smiling kindly.
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