When Derrick left the wood--and how loath he was to leave it, for Celia's presence seemed still to haunt it!--and returned to the inn, he found Reggie still with his writing-pad on his knee.

He glanced up, as Derrick sank into the seat beside him, and said drily, "You look almost offensively happy, Green.

I need not ask you if I am to congratulate you." "Congratulate away," said Derrick, with so obvious an expression of satisfaction that Reggie nodded and smiled.

"Have you been working all the time ?" "No," replied Reggie.

"There has been an interlude.