young man of Charlotte's dining with them. Surely
he wouldn't have left by ten? At any rate, I'll go down with you and
see. It takes so long if one "ends a servant first" She put him gently
aside, and then paused as a new thought struck her. "Or wait; my maid's
in the next room. I'll tell her to go and ask if Margaret will receive
me. Yes, that's much the best way."

She turned back and went toward the door that led to her bedroom; but
before she could open it she felt Ide's quick touch again.

"I believe--I remember now--Charlotte's young man was suggesting that
they should all go out--to a musichall or something of the sort. I'm
sure--I'm positively sure that you won't find them."

Her hand dropped from the door, his dropped from her arm, and as they
drew back and faced each other she saw the blood rise slowly through his
sallow skin, redden his neck and ears, encroach upon the edges of his
beard, and settle in dull patches under his kind troubled eyes. She had
seen the same blush on another face, and the same impulse of compassion
she had then felt made her turn her gaze away again.

A knock on the door broke the silence, and a porter put his head' into
the room.

"It's only just to know how many pieces there'll be to go down to the
steamer in the morning."

With the words she felt that the veil of painted gauze was torn in
tatters, and that she was moving again among the grim edges of reality.

"Oh, dear," she exclaimed, "I never _can_ remember! Wait a minute; I
shall have to ask my maid."

She opened her bedroom door and called out: "Annette!"

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