Celia stopped dead short, and looked at him for a moment with the ordinary expression of surprise at the sudden appearance of a stranger; then she recognised him and, all in a flash, her face changed.

First, it was flooded with colour; then it grew pale and her wide-open eyes held a look of astonishment and some other emotion which went straight to Derrick's heart and struck him dumb, so that he stood before her in silence.

She was the first to speak.
"You!" she murmured, with a little catch in her voice, her hand going to her heart unconsciously.
"Yes," said Derrick, unsteadily.

"Didn't he tell you ?" She shook her head.
"You mean Reggie Rex?
No--he asked me to come here, and I thought it was to meet him.

I--I am rather startled." She sank on to the bank, looking straight before her, and, still bare-headed, Derrick stood beside her, speechless.