Ah--could--would you mind telling me what to do in that case, Mrs.Malcourt ?" "What _is_ there to do, Mr.Portlaw, if a woman refuses to receive you ?" "Why--_I_ don't know," he admitted vacantly.

"What would _you_ do ?" Young Mrs.Malcourt, frankly amused, shook her head: "If Mrs.Ascott won't see you, she _won't_! You don't intend to carry Pride's Fall by assault, do you ?" "But Louis said--" "Mr.Malcourt knows quite well that Mrs.Ascott won't see you." "W-why ?" "Ask yourself.

Besides, her lawyers have forbidden her." But Portlaw's simple faith in Malcourt never wavered; he stood his ground and quoted him naively, adding: "You see Louis must have meant _something_.

Couldn't you tell me what he meant?
I'll promise to do it." "I suppose," she answered, laughing, "that he meant me to write a note to Alida Ascott, making a personal appeal for your reception.

He spoke of it; but, Mr.Portlaw, I am scarcely on such a footing with her." Portlaw was so innocently delighted with the idea which bore Malcourt's stamp of authority, that young Mrs.Malcourt found it difficult to refuse; and a few moments later, armed with a friendly but cautious note, he climbed laboriously aboard a huge chestnut hack, sat there doubtfully while a groom made all fast and tight for heavy weather, then, with a groan, set spurs to his mount, and went pounding away through the forest, upon diplomacy intent.
Hamil, walking about the lawns in the sunshine, saw him come careering past, making heavy weather of it, and smiled in salute; Shiela on a rustic ladder, pruning-knife in hand, gazed over her garden wall until the woods swallowed rotund rider and steed.