ll! And that is how you met on Tuesday--if it was
Tuesday?"

"Yes; he went to thank Mr. Ayrton, and Mr. Ayrton asked him to dinner.
It was a small party, and not very brilliant. Herbert came here with me
afterward--for five minutes."

"Ah! To get the taste of the party off his mouth, I suppose? He didn't
say anything to you then about being tired of his London season?"

"Not a word. He seemed tired of the dinner party. He yawned."

"And I'm sure that you yawned in sympathy. When a man so far forgets
himself as to yawn in the presence of a woman, she never fails to
respond with one of more ample circumference. When a woman so far
remembers herself as to yawn in the presence of a man, he tries to say
something witty."

"Yes, when the woman is not his wife. If she is his wife, he asks her if
she doesn't think it's about time she was in bed."

"I dare say you're right; you have observed men--and women, for that
matter--much more closely than I have had time to do. It's very awkward
that he isn't here. I must bring him back at once."

She felt a little movement at her heart; but she only said:

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you. Why shouldn't he be allowed to enjoy
his holiday in peace?"

"It's a matter of business; the mine, I told you."

"What's wrong with the mine that could be set right by his coming back
at once? Are you not making enough out of it?"

"We're making quite as much as is good for us out of it. But if we can
get a hundred and fifty thousand pounds for a few yards of our claim
further east, without damaging the prospects of the mine itself, I don't
think we should refuse it--at any rate, I don't think that we should
refuse to consider the offer."

"What is a hundred and fifty thousand pounds?" said she.

"I wonder why you dressed yourself as you did last night?" said he.

The suddenness of the words did not cause her to quail as the guilty
wife quails--yes, under a properly managed lime-light. She did not even
color. But then, of course, she was not a guilty wife.

She lay back on her chair and laughed.

He watched her--not eagerly, but pleasantly, admiringly.

"My dear Stephen, if you could understand why I dressed myself that way
you would be able to give me a valuable hint as to where the connection
lies between your mine and my toilet--I need such a hint, now, I can
assure you."

She was sitting up now looking at him with lovely laughing eyes. (After
all, she was no guilty wife.)