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And yet Ann fancied that she herself was not as warmly welcomed by the women as she had been earlier in the day. Why was that? Had her facility for picking winners annoyed them? Or did they disapprove of her appearing amongst them all, accompanied by a married man whose wife was spending a holiday in Australia? Ann told herself that this attitude on their part would be absurd. One wasn’t compromised so easily by chatting in a friendly fashion to married men. But suddenly back to her mind came the memory of Mrs. Pratt’s indignant departure from Tirau. Was it possible that such a silly story could have suddenly gained credence amongst the Wairiri women? Ridiculous! They had too much common sense. She dismissed the idea, and told herself that she was becoming self-conscious, and imagining herself slighted because she wasn’t again treated as the “star turn” of the party. “Wonderful how quickly one’s head can swell,” she reflected, with a little smile at her own expense.

So after tea, she strolled again with Holmes down towards the totalisator, to make her seventh investment. He talked of the children, whom he had seen for a short time that afternoon, and who appeared to be quite happy and contented with Mrs. Marley; mentioned current matters connected with Tirau; and remarked that he had received a very decent letter from Waring offering to help him financially. Ann glanced at him quickly as he said this. No, she decided, there was still no suspicion in his mind with regard to Vera and his friend. What was it then that was troubling him? But she would not ask him. He had told her that he wished to defer his explanation, and she would wait until the evening. Standing to-