‘I couldn’t-I couldn’t-I couldn’t! He didn’t write-he hasn’t written for ages. Aunt Sybil always did say it wouldn’t come to anything, and that just showed. And it wasn’t a real engagement-Aunt Sybil always said it wasn’t.’

Ray’s brows made a stern dark line above eyes that were bright with anger.

‘And what Aunt Sybil says goes? For God’s sake, Lila, wake up! It’s you and Bill who know whether you were engaged to each other, not Lady Dryden. If you were happy, I wouldn’t say a word. If you wanted to marry Herbert Whitall, I wouldn’t say a word. But you’re not happy. And you don’t want to marry him. And you’re of age. You’re perfectly free to walk out of this house and meet Bill Waring’s train. You’re like a rabbit in a trap. Well, the door is open and you can walk out. Are you going to be mesmerized into staying in the trap until the door isn’t open any more and you can’t get out?’

Lila went on looking terrified.

‘He didn’t write,’ she said.

‘He didn’t write because he couldn’t. He was in an accident- he’s been in hospital. Mr. Rumbold told me. But he’s all right again now, and he’s coming home tomorrow. What are you going to do about it?’

Two big tears ran down over the apple-blossom. Lila said faintly.

‘I can’t-I can’t do anything-’

‘You can-if you want to.’

She shook her head.

‘It’s too late. All the invitations have gone out-there are three hundred wedding presents. I can’t do anything now.’

On the last word the door was briskly opened and Lady Dryden came in.

CHAPTER V

Bill Waring jumped down on to the platform. He hailed a porter and directed him briefly, but all the time his eyes were on the barrier, looking for Lila. There was a bit of a crowd there- people waiting to get through for the next train. He would see her in a moment. He had sent off his cable and followed it up by a telegram from Southampton, so she was simply bound to be there. The trouble was he couldn’t see her. He hurried the porter, picked out his luggage, and went striding away to give up his ticket.