Every morning when Durrance was in Devonshire he would come across the fields to Ethne at The Pool, and Mrs.Adair, watching them as they talked and laughed without a shadow of embarrassment or estrangement, grew more angry, and found it more difficult to hold her peace and let the pretence go on.

It was a month of strain and tension to all three, and not one of them but experienced a great relief when Durrance visited his oculist in London.

And those visits increased in number, and lengthened in duration.

Even Ethne was grateful for them.

She could throw off the mask for a little while; she had an opportunity to be tired; she had solitude wherein to gain strength to resume her high spirits upon Durrance's return.