Left by herself in the smoking-room, she suddenly heard a bark in the passage which had a familiar sound in her ears.

She opened the door--and in rushed Tommie, with one of his shrieks of delight! Curiosity had taken him into the house.

He had heard the voices in the smoking-room; had recognized Isabel's voice; and had waited, with his customary cunning and his customary distrust of strangers, until Hardyman was out of the way.

Isabel kissed and caressed him, and then drove him out again to the lawn, fearing that Lady Lydiard might return to look for him.

Going back to the smoking-room, she stood at the window watching for Hardyman's return.