rather an expensive affair, but worth the money.  Of course I have lodgings of my own.  Mrs. D. is at a big hotel, where friends of hers are staying.  I have been introduced to two or three people, great swells, and I’ve had lunch with Mrs. D. at the hotel twice.  This kind of life suits me exactly.  I don’t think I get on badly with the swells.  Of course I say not a word about my position, and of course nobody would think of asking questions.  You would like this place; I rather wish you were here.  Of course father thinks I have come on my own hook.  It’s very awkward having to keep a secret of this kind; I must try and persuade Mrs. D. to have a talk with father.  But one thing I can tell you,—­I feel pretty sure that she will get me, somehow or other, out of that beastly City life; she’s always talking of things I might do.  But not a word to any one about all this—­be sure.’

This news caused Nancy to ponder for a long time.  The greater part of the morning she spent at home, and in her own room; after lunch, she sat idly on the promenade, little disposed for conversation.

It was the second day since Tarrant had told her that he was going to Exeter, and they had not again met; the Morgans had not seen him either.  The next morning, however, as all three were sitting in one of their favourite places, Tarrant approached them.  Mrs. Morgan, who was fluttered by the natural supposition of a love affair between Miss.  Lord and the interesting young man, made it easy for them to talk together.

‘Did you get your books?’ Nancy asked, when silence followed on trivialities.

’Yes, and spent half a day with them in a favourite retreat of mine, inland.  It’s a very beautiful spot.  I should like you to see it.  Indeed, you ought to.’

Nancy turned her eyes to the sea.

‘We might walk over there one afternoon,’ he added.

‘Mrs. Morgan can’t walk far.’

’Why should we trouble her?  Are you obliged to remain under Mrs. Morgan’s wing?’

It was said jestingly, but Nancy felt piqued.

‘Certainly not.  I am quite independent.’

‘So I should have supposed.  Then why not come?’

He seemed perfectly self-possessed, but the voice was not quite his own.  To Nancy, her eyes still looking straight forward, it sounded as though from a distance; it had an effect upon her nerves similar to that she had experienced three days ago, when they were walking about the pier.  Her hands fell idly; she leaned back more heavily on the seat; a weight was on her tongue.

‘A country ramble of an hour or two,’ pursued the voice, which itself had become languorous.  ’Surely you are sometimes alone?  It isn’t necessary to give a detailed account of your time?’

She answered impatiently.  ‘Of course not.’  In this moment her thoughts had turned to Luckworth Crewe, and she was asking herself why this invitation of Tarrant’s affected her so very differently from anything she had felt when Crewe begged her to meet him in London.  With him she could go anywhere, enjoying a genuine independence, a complete self-confidence, thinking her unconventional behaviour merely good fun.  Tarrant’s proposal startled her.  She was not mistress of the situation, as when trifling with Crewe.  A sense of peril caused her heart to beat quickly.