And perhaps he had, too, some of the guests whispered to one another.

Mr. Linton shrugged his shoulders and remarked that business was business.

Everyone agreed with the general accuracy of this assertion, but it was not one that required much boldness to make, and what it had to do with Mr. Courtland’s hurried departure no one seemed quite able to perceive.

The general idea that had prevailed at The Mooring on the subject of Mr. Courtland was that he would remain at the house after all the other guests—­Miss Ayrton only excepted—­had left.

During Monday several were to return to town, and the remainder on Tuesday, including Miss Ayrton.  She required to do so to be in time for a grand function at which Royalty was to be present on that night.  Mrs. Linton herself meant to return on Wednesday afternoon.

It was late on Sunday night when Herbert had gone to Ella’s side and told her that he found it necessary to leave for town early in the morning instead of waiting until Tuesday evening.

“Good Heavens!” she cried; “what is the meaning of this?  What will people say?  You do not mean to tell me that she—­she——­Oh, no; that would be impossible!”

“Nothing is impossible,” said he.  “Nothing—­not even my running away.”

“You have told her——­”

“I have told her nothing.  I am not sure that I have anything to tell her.  I am going away to make sure.”

“Oh! very well.  But I must say that I think you are wrong—­quite wrong.  There is that Mr. Holland; he is coming into greater prominence than ever since that article of his appeared in the Zeit Geist.  Stephen says he will certainly have to leave the Church.”

“What has Mr. Holland got to say to——­”

“More than meets the eye.  You must remember that three months ago she was engaged to marry him.  Now, though I don’t mean to say that she ever truly loved him, yet there is no smoke without fire; it is very often that two persons who have become engaged to be married love each other.  Now, if Phyllis ever had a tender feeling for Mr. Holland, and only threw him over because his theories are not those of Philistia, in the midst of which she had always lived, that feeling is certain to become tenderer if he is about to be made a martyr of.  Would you like to see her thrown away upon George Holland?”

Herbert looked at the woman who could thus plead the cause—­if that was not too strong a phrase—­of the girl whom he had come to love.  He felt that he was only beginning to know something about woman and her nature.

“I must go,” he said.  “I must go.  I am not sure of myself.”

“You had best make sure of her, and then you will become sure of yourself,” said Ella.

“That would be to do her an injustice.  No.  I feel that I must go,” he cried.

And go he did.

Those of the guests who remained during Monday did their best to find out how Phyllis was disposed to regard his departure; and there was a consensus of opinion among them that she seemed greatly mortified, though she made a splendid fight, trying to appear utterly indifferent.