“Ah!  Herrick!  He’s a good chap, isn’t he?” said Trent a little wistfully.

“We all are—­once you get to know us,” returned Audrey, persistently cheerful.  “And Sara—­Sara won’t let you go either, Garth.”

His sensitive, bitter mouth twisted suddenly.

“If you don’t mind,” he said quickly, “we won’t talk about Sara.  And I won’t keep you any longer from your guests.  It was—­just like you—­to take it as you have done, Audrey.  And if, later on, you find yourself obliged to revise your opinion of me—­I shall understand.  And I shall not resent it.”

“I’m not very likely to do what you suggest.”

He looked at her with a curious expression on his face.

“I’m afraid it is only too probable,” he rejoined simply.

He wrung her hand, and, turning, walked swiftly away through the wood, while Audrey retraced her footsteps in the direction of the dell.

She was feeling extremely annoyed at what she considered to be Mrs. Durward’s hasty and inconsiderate action.  It was unpardonable of any one thus to spoil the harmony of the day, she reflected indignantly, and then she looked up and met Elisabeth’s misty, hyacinth eyes, full of a gentle, appealing regret.

“Mrs. Maynard, I must beg you to try and pardon me,” she said, approaching with a charming gesture of apology.  “I have no excuse to offer except that Mr. Trent is a man I—­I cannot possibly meet.”  She paused and seemed to swallow with some difficulty, and of a sudden Audrey was conscious of a thrill of totally unexpected compassion.  There was so evidently genuine pain and emotion behind the hesitating apology.

“I am sorry you should have been distressed,” she replied kindly.  “It has been a most unfortunate affair all round.”

Elisabeth bestowed a grateful little smile upon her.

“If you will forgive me,” she said, “I will say good-bye now.  I am sure you will understand my withdrawing.”

“Oh no, you mustn’t think of such a thing,” cried Audrey hospitably, though within herself she could not but acknowledge that the suggestion was a timely one.  “Please don’t run away from us like that.”

“It is very kind of you, but really—­if you will excuse me—­I think I would prefer not to remain.  I feel somewhat bouleversee.  And I am so distressed to have been the unwitting cause of spoiling your charming party.”

Audrey hesitated.

“Of course, if you would really rather go——­” she began.

“I would rather,” persisted Elisabeth with a gentle inflexibility of purpose.  “Will you give a message to Sara for me?” Audrey nodded.  “Ask her to come and see me to-morrow, and tell her that—­that I will explain.”  Suddenly she stretched out an impulsive hand.  “Oh, Mrs. Maynard!  If you knew how much I dread explaining this matter to Sara!  Perhaps, however”—­her eyes took on a thoughtful expression—­“Perhaps, however, it may not be necessary—­perhaps it can be avoided.”