n his excitement. "Guy, you're great! You
really are. You're the only person who's seen the advantage of going
right ahead. But don't look so sad yourself. You'll marry your Pauline."

"Yes, in about four years," Guy sighed.

"Oh, no, no; in about four months. Will Pauline like Lily? She won't be
jealous of me when I'm married will she?"

"No, but I think I shall be," Guy laughed.

"Laugh, you old devil, laugh!" Michael shouted. "Here we are. Did you
ever see such a house? It hasn't quite the austerity of Plashers Mead,
has it?"

"It looks rather fun," Guy commented.

"You know," Michael said solemnly, pausing for a moment at the head of
the steps going down to the front door. "You know, Guy, I believe that
you'll be able to persuade my mother to withdraw all her opposition
to-night. I believe I'm going to marry Lily this week. And I shall be
so glad--Guy, you don't know how glad I shall be."

He ran hurriedly down the steps and had pressed the bell of Number One
before Guy had entered the main door.

"I say, you know, it will be really terrible if she's out after all my
boasting," said Michael. "And Miss Harper, too--that's the
housekeeper--my housekeeper, you know. If they're both out, we'll have
to go round and wait in the garden until they come in. Hark, there's
somebody coming."

The door opened, and Michael hurried in.

"Hullo, good afternoon, Miss Harper. You didn't expect to see me, eh?
I've brought a friend. Is Miss Haden in the big room?"

"Miss Haden is out, Mr. Fane," said the housekeeper.

"What's the matter? You're looking rather upset."

"Am I, Mr. Fane?" she asked blankly. "Am I? Oh, no, I'm very well. Oh,
yes, very well. It's the funny light, I expect, Mr. Fane."

She seemed to be choking out all her words, and Michael looked at her
sharply.

"Well, we'll wait in the big room."

"It's rather untidy. You see, we--I wasn't expecting you, Mr. Fane."

"That's all right," said Michael. "Hulloa ...I say, Guy, go on into that
room ahead. I'll be with you in a minute."

Guy mistook the direction and turned the handle of Lily's bedroom door.

"No, no," Michael called. "The double doors opposite."

"My mistake," said Guy cheerfully. "But don't worry: the other door was
locked. So if you've got a Bluebeard's Closet, I've done no harm."

He disappeared into the big room, and the moment he was inside Michael
turned fiercely to Miss Harper.

"Who's is this hat?" he demanded, snatching it up