"Only give her time," said Fleda. She had advanced to the threshold of the door thus thrown open to her and, without exactly crossing it, she threw in an appreciative glance. She asked Owen when his marriage would take place, and in the light of his reply read that Mrs. Gereth's wretched attitude would have no influence at all on the event, absolutely fixed when he came down, and distant by only three months. He liked Fleda's seeming to be on his side, though that was a secondary matter, for what really most concerned him now was the line his mother took about Poynton, her declared unwillingness to give it up. "They'll read it first," said Mrs. Gereth.!

CHAPTER XX "Then won't yours do?" Mrs. Gereth demanded. "Haven't I had it from your own mouth that he cares for you?"

"It has lasted long enough for my purpose. There was something I wanted to know, but I think I know it now." "There's the chance, of course, that she may be afraid." "He speaks to me of the only thing that concerns me. He gives me clear notice that he abates not one jot of his demand."