Lady Barnes dared not oppose her any more.

She understood that if she were thwarted, or even criticized, Daphne would simply decline to live there, and her own link with the place would be once more broken.

So she withdrew angrily from the scene, and tried not to know what was going on.

Meanwhile a note of invitation had been addressed to Daphne by the Duchess, and had been accepted; Roger had been reminded, at the point of the bayonet, that go he must; and Dr.Lelius had transferred himself from Heston to Upcott, and the companionship of Mrs.Fairmile.
* * * * * It was the last day of the Frenches' visit.

Roger and Herbert French had been trying to get a brace or two of partridges on the long-neglected and much-poached estate; and on the way home French expressed a hope that, now they were to settle at Heston, Roger would take up some of the usual duties of the country gentleman.