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410 deeming feature in him. He loved Jennifer. After each burst of passion he came to her like a dog, whimpering for forgiveness. His eyes followed her about the room, and the touch of her hand soothed him in his sudden fits of excitement. Tempest guessed that if Ducane were parted from that sweet womanly strength on which he fed he would soon be parted from life also. And in his heart he hoped that that day might come soon.

On the second night, when Ducane, cross and sleepy as a child, had stumbled off to bed, Jennifer slid her arm through her mother's.

"Mr. Tempest is going in the morning, little mother," she said. "And I have got one or two things to scold him about privately. You don't mind, darling? I knew you wouldn't." Then when the door was shut, she drew a chair for Tempest up to the fire, and sat down in a corner of the lounge where she had said good-bye to Dick.

"I want to speak to you about Andree," she began at once, not looking at Tempest. "When I got your letter I came back to look after her. Don't thank me. I had nearly decided to come anyway. And I was glad of the excuse. I did what I could." She paused a moment. "She cared for him too much to look at anyone else. And then she went North. I had not heard of any reason why she should go until Mr. Heriot told me that he had been sent after her. She did not come to say good-bye to me. I am sorry that I failed to—to understand her better. I did try. But Andree never cared about women."

Tempest sat back in his chair for a long while, staring into the fire. At last he said slowly:

"You saw Heriot as he came through?"

"Yes."

"And she loved him still? As much as ever?"

Jennifer felt her eyes fill. She knew how this man had loved Grange's Andree.

"He seemed to have wakened her heart, and so he possessed it. I think they both realise that."

Tempest was silent again. His hand shaded his face, but Jennifer could guess something of his thoughts. For a little she struggled with herself, trying to brace herself to give him comfort which it was going to hurt her un-