Mutual Consent

We mounted our machines and proceeded on our way. Presently Dora and myself found ourselves lagging a little behind. "This isn't at all right, you know, " she remarked. "What isn't?" "Naturally you should be with Irene." "My dear Miss Paget, we have the rest of our lives to be together. Irene nnderstands that. " "She is quite exceptional. " "She is very clever, and I admire her immensely. " Dora laughed. "Is that why you became engaged to her?" "I didn't. Mrs. Kenyon arranged it f or ns. ' ' Dora opened her eyes wonderingly. "Mrs. Kenyon arranged it for you?" she repeated. " Yes, " said L " She is very thoughtful. She decided it was time for Irene to marry, and she thought I was fitted to become a husband. With admirable tact she managed the whole affair, and we are both very gratef ui to her. ' ' "And youlove oneanother?" she asked. "We admire one another, " I replied, "and that is an excellent substitute. " "Do you think your tastes are similar?" "Oh, they are not, " I replied frankly. "But we will make allowances: Mrs. Kenyon has been thinking that it is time for ns to settle down. As you know, when Mrs. Kenyon thinks there is generally a result, and, what is more, she has discovered a house which an architect unconsciously designed to meet Irene's requirements. " "How lucky!" said Dora. "Yes. Isn't it jolly? I have to settle within three days. This is the surprise in store for Irene. " Dora looked ahead at the others. They were about 200 yards in front. "When are you going to break the news to her?" "Some timeorother. It does not look as if she would welcome an interruption just now. Grierson, who is also studious, can always provide a subject of interest to her. That is wby I encourage the acquaintance. " "You are very generous. " "That is hardly the word. The principie involved is one of give and take. ' ' There was silence for a moment or so. "We really must catch them up, " said she at length. "Yes, really we must," I replied, back pedaling a little. "I hear that you leave tomorrow. " I had been out to Sonth África a few months previously, and on my way home had met the Pagets, who had come on board at Madeira. "The dear old Dutton castle!" she exclaimed. "Those days were the most pleasant I have ever spent. " "Yes, they were very charming," I assented with a half sigh. "We saw a good deal of one another during that short voyage. " Looking ahead, I noticed that Irene and Grierson were riding very slowly. "Unless we get off and walk, " I said, "I am af raid we shall have to catch them up. " "That has been my endeavor for some time, " said Dora. "I shall ride with Mr. Grierson and leave you with Irene. " "I am not at all sure that he wants to ride with you." Dora gave a little toss of her head. "Men are not supposed to act as they wish where ladies are concerned. " "That is evidently Mrs. Kenyon'B idea, " I remarked. We joined tho others. "You seemed to be sornewhat interested in a discussion, ' ' I said to Grierson, "so we decided not to worry you with our chatter. " "Miss Fairfax and myself, " he replied with a smile, "were comparing our impressions of a book we have both perused. " The four of us rode along slowly for some distance. Presently Dora, trae to her word, gradually drew Grierson ahead, and Irene and myself were left a few yards behind. "Do you know, dear, " I said, with a glance at her, "that people are beginning to think that it is time we should be married?" "People?" "Well, Mra. Kenyon in particular. It appears, " said I, "that she has found out a house that was built for yon. " "For me?" "For U8, I mean. It has a lovely Btudy for you to write in, a magnificently lighted room for you to paint in, a perfect gem of a boudoir for you to - well, what do ladies do in their boudoirs? Mrs. Kenyon says that it is the chance of a lifetime and on no account must it be missed. She thinks it is absolutely necessary for your health and happiness that you" - "Then it's settled!" she exclaimed gloomily. "I am afraid it is. " " What is the name of this wonderfix place?" "I think it is called Hatton House." She broke into a laugh. "Hatton House!" she cried. "lam afraid auntie will be disappointed. " "Why?" I asked hopefully. "Mr. Grierson has just told me tha 2ast night he completcd the purchase of the hoiise. " "ByJove!" I cried. "How fortnn&te!" Grierson and Dora Paget were some distance ahcad by now. "They are going the long way around, " I said. "Let us turn down the lane and meet them at Walbridge corner. They will know where we have gone. ' ' Irene gave me a hesitating look. "You seem a little tired, " I said, 'and it is considerably shorter the third side of a triangle, you know." She assented to the proposal, and we turned into the lane. "It will be a surprise to Mrs. Kenyon, " I began. "I wonder what she will say. " "Don't you think, Hugh, that in the rast we have been accustomed to pay ust a trifle too inuch attention to what ftuntie says?" I shot a glance at her. Her eyes were oontemplating the handle bara "I suppose that is why we became engaged, ' ' I ventured. "Do you mean to say that you didn't ove me?" she asked quickly. I thought [ detected a shade of eagerness in her tone. "My dear Irene," I said reproach'ully, "do you think we should have )ecome engaged if we had not been attracted to one another?" "Yes, yes," she said impatiently. 'But do we love one another?" "Of that I am not so sure. " She was thoughtful for a moment. 'Then, " she said slowly, "do you think, Hugh, we are justified in running such a terrible risk?" I fought the matter out with my conecience. "No, " I said at length. "Whatever our private f eelings may be, I think it is plainly our duty to" - I paused. "What?" she cried almost eagerly. "Break off the engagement, " I said sorrowfully. There was a long pause. We reached Walbridge corner, and alighting trom our machines seated ourselves on a grassy bank to await the others. In a few minutes they rode up. "Well, I do think you are mean!" cried Dora. "Yes, we must apologize, " I said. 'We took a short cut to happiness - I mean to Walbridge. " I pulled out my watch. "We must hurry to be back in time for luncheon. ' ' We mounted, and again I found myself by Dora's side. " Your father invited me to come and make a stay at your town house, ' ' I said. "May I?" "But Irene would not consent to rour deserting her. " "I think she would be rather glad. You know we admire one another. Well, we have been talking the matter over and come to the conclusión that this is not quite sufficient, so by mutual consent we have terniinated the engagement. " "Is that what happened in the lane?" she exclaiined in surprise. "Yes. That is why I think the 'hum of things, ' followed by a trip to New Zealand, would be distinctly agreeable. May I come?' ' "Yes," she said, with a smile, "ií yon promise not to devote too much ;ime to the club window. But, Mrs. ienyon - what will" - she added. "I don't know," I replied, "and, etrange to say, a feeling that I don't care mnch is gradually taking possession of me. Dora langhed gayly. "How brave you are!" she said. Later in the day - it was after luncheon - the news was broken to Mrs. Kenyon. Naturally she was a little surarised; but, contrary to our expecta;ions, she did not appear to be much annoyed. "Perhaps it is for the best, " she said philosophically. Irene and inyself are at present fulfïlling our expressed intention of admiring one another at a distance - she Erom that desirable residence, Hatton House, where she is known as Mrs. Grierson, and I from a remote part of New Zealand, where Dora and myself are wandering on a prolonged moon