Chloe had taken advantage of their casual _tete-a-tete_, as she had done before on several occasions, to claim something of the old relation, instead of accepting the new, like a decent woman; and in the face of the temptation offered him he had shown a weakness of which not only his conscience but his pride was ashamed.

He realized perfectly that she had been trying during the whole autumn to recover her former hold on him, and he also saw clearly and bitterly that he was not strong enough to resist her, should he continue to be thrown with her; and not clever enough to baffle her, if her will were really set on recapturing him.

He was afraid of her, and afraid of himself.
What, then, must he do?
As he tramped about the wet fields and plantations with a keeper and a few beaters after some scattered pheasants, he was really, poor fellow! arguing out the riddle of his life.

What would Herbert French advise him to do ?--supposing he could put the question plainly to him, which of course was not possible.

He meant honestly and sincerely to keep straight; to do his duty by Daphne and the child.