you're half so interesting.'

'Then you'd better take Amelia to the play to-morrow night instead of
me.'

'I'm afraid she's already engaged.'

'Nothing will induce me to play second fiddle to Amelia.'

'I've taken the seats and ordered an exquisite dinner at the _Carlton_.'

'What have you ordered?'

'_Potage bisque._'

Mrs. Crowley made a little face.

'_Sole Normande._'

She shrugged her shoulders.

'Wild duck.'

'With an orange salad?'

'Yes.'

'I don't positively dislike that.'

'And I've ordered a _souffle_ with an ice in the middle of it.'

'I shan't come.'

'Why?'

'You're not being really nice to me.'

'I shouldn't have thought you kept very well abreast of dramatic art if
you insist on marrying everyone who takes you to a theatre,' he said.

'I was very nicely brought up,' she answered demurely, as the carriage
stopped at Dick's door.

She gave him a ravishing smile as he took leave of her. She knew that he
was quite prepared to marry her, and she had come to the conclusion that
she was willing to have him. Neither much wished to hurry the affair,
and each was determined that he would only yield to save the other from
a fancied desperation. Their love-making was pursued with a light heart.

* * *

At Whitsuntide the friends separated. Alec went up to Scotland to see
his house and proposed afterwards to spend a week in Lancashire. He had
always taken a keen interest in the colliery which brought him so large
an income, and he wanted to examine into certain matters that required
his attention. Mrs. Crowley went to Blackstable, where she still had
Court Leys, and Dick, in order to satisfy himself that he was not really
a day older, set out for Paris. But they all arranged to meet again on
the day, immediately after the holidays, which Lady Kelsey, having
persuaded Lucy definitely to renounce her life of comparative
retirement, had fixed for a dance. It was the first ball she had given
for many years, and she meant it to be brilliant. Lady Kelsey had an
amiable weakness for good society, and Alec's presence would add lustre
to the occasion. Meanwhile she went with Lucy to her little place on the
river, and did not return till two days before the party. They were
spent in a turmoil of agitation. Lady Kelsey passed sleepless nights,
fearing at one moment that not a soul would appear, and at another that
people would come in such numbers that there would not be enough for
them to eat. T