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Rh Granville thought of the one thing, or rather of the one person, likely, and threw out a feeler:—

'Have you heard from Gladys?'

'No,' said Alfred, in a hollow voice. Have you seen her?

This was the last idea that had possessed him: that Gladys might have come home, that he might find her there on his return. It was the second time that day that he had cheated himself with vain, unreasoning hopes.

'Seen her?' Granville screwed in his eyeglass tighter. 'Of course I haven't seen her! How should we see her here, my good fellow, when she's down in Suffolk?'

Alfred turned pale, and for an instant stood glaring; then he burst into a harsh laugh.

'You know how odd she is, Gran! I thought she might have tired of her friends and come back. She's capable of it, and I feared it—that's all!'

He left the room abruptly.

'Poor chap!' said Granville, with a