way he had just spoken. It was a new thing to her to
be taken care of, to feel that there was someone ready,
aye, determined, to protect her, and take her part.
Also, it was the first time he had called her his wife.

A few minutes later they were sitting side by side
in a large, open motor-car. Mr. Reynolds was a pleasant,
good-looking man of about thirty, and he had insisted
on giving up his seat to Major Guthrie. There
would have been plenty of room for the three of them
leaning back, but he had preferred to sit opposite to
them, and now he was looking, with a good deal of
sympathy, interest, and respect at the blind soldier, and
with equal interest, but with less liking and respect, at
Major Guthrie's wife.

Mr. Reynolds disliked pro-Germans and spy-maniacs
with almost equal fervour; his work brought him in
contact with both. From what he had been able to
learn, the lady sitting opposite to him was to be numbered
among the first category.

"And now," said Major Guthrie, leaning his sightless
face forward, "will you kindly inform me for what
reason my wife has been summoned to Witanbury this
afternoon? The Dean's letter -- I do not know if you
have read it -- is expressed in rather mysterious and
alarming language."

The man he addressed waited for a moment. He
knew that the two people before him had only been
married that morning.

"Yes, that is so," he said frankly. "I suppose the
Dean thought it best that I should inform Mrs. Guthrie
of the business which brought me to Witanbury
three hours ago. It chanced that I was in the neigh-

[[324]]

p323 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p324w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p325

v?