to say while Garstin was there. And the
man was so damnably unconventional, in fact, so downright rude, and so
totally devoid of all delicacy, all insight in social matters, that
even if he saw that Braybrooke wanted a quiet word with Miss Van Tuyn
he would probably not let him have it. However, it was too late now to
avoid the steadily advancing couple. Miss Van Tuyn had seen Braybrooke,
and sent him a smile. In a moment he was face to face with them, and she
stopped to greet him.

"I have been spending an hour at the Wallace Collection with Mr.
Garstin," she said. "And quarrelling with him all the time. His views on
French art are impossible."

"Ah! how are you?" said Braybrooke, addressing the painter with almost
exaggerated cordiality.

Garstin nodded in his usual offhand way. He did not dislike Braybrooke.
When Braybrooke was there he perceived him, having eyes, and having
ears heard his voice. But hitherto Braybrooke had never succeeded in
conveying any impression to the mind of Garstin. On one occasion when
Braybrooke had been discussed in Garstin's presence, and Garstin had
said: "Who is he?" and had received a description of Braybrooke with the
additional information: "But he comes to your private views! You have
known him for years!" he had expressed his appreciation of Braybrooke's
personality and character by the exclamation: "Oh, to be sure! The beard
with the gentleman!" Braybrooke did not know this, or he would certainly
have disliked Garstin even more than he did already.

As Garstin's nod was not followed by any other indication of humanity
Braybrooke addressed Miss Van Tuyn, and told her of his call at
Claridge's.

"And as you were not to be found I paid a visit to Miss Cronin."

"She must have bored you very much," was the charming girl's comment.
"She has the most confused mind I know."

What an opening for Braybrooke! But he could not take it because of
Garstin, who stood by cruelly examining the stream of humanity which
flowed past them hypnotized by the shops.

"May I--shall I be in the way if I turn back with you for a few steps?"
he ventured, with the sort of side glance at Garstin that a male dog
gives to another male dog while walking round and round on a first
meeting. "It is such a pleasure to see you."

Here he threw very definite admiration into the eyes which he fixed on
Miss Van Tuyn.

She responded automatically and begged him to accompany them.

"Dick is leaving me at th