and the next
moment, as it seemed, they were at table on the lawn, with sparrows
pecking at stray crumbs. Henry, asking permission to smoke, lighted a
pipe.

"I've only seen you with cigarettes before," she remarked. "Doesn't the
tobacco smell good in the morning air! Do you know what I miss most of
all? Sound of cabs going along to Paddington Station. I shouldn't care
for the country, you know, not for always." She rattled on, jumping, as
was her custom when happy, from one subject to another.

"It's miraculous to hear you talking again," he declared. "Last night we
could scarcely get a word out of you."

"Tell me if I babble too much."

"You dear little woman!" he cried protestingly.

Clarence Mills came down, and Miss Loriner was relieved of the difficult
task of keeping her eyes averted. Clarence, on the plea that he had some
writing to do, wondered whether he might be excused from church, and
Henry recommended the billiard-room as a quiet place for work; there was
a writing-table at the end, and no one would interfere. Miss Loriner,
when Clarence had finished his meal, offered to conduct him to the
apartment; it was, it seemed, over the stables at the back of the house,
and not easy for a stranger to find; moreover, Miss Loriner felt anxious
to see how writing people started their work. Thus Henry Douglass and
Gertie Higham would have been left alone, but that Jim Langham,
exercising his gift of interference, appeared, rather puffed about the
eyes, and one or two indications hinting that the task of shaving had not
been without accident. Jim Langham's temper in the early hours seemed to
be imperfect; he made only a pretence of eating, crumbling toast and
chipping the top of an egg; he admitted he never felt thoroughly in form
until after lunch. When Henry suggested that Gertie would like to see
the grounds, Jim Langham followed them, pointing out the rose walk, and
the summer-house (that was like a large beehive) with an air of
proprietorship which Henry did not assume. Henry made an inquiry.

"I'm really chapel, if I'm anything," she answered; "but I shall like to
go. Especially if you're to be there. It'll be the first time we've
ever been in a place of worship together."

"We shall go together again," he said, "some day." She shook her head
quickly.

Lady Douglass had breakfasted in her room, and came when they were ready
and waiting; she complained severely that she seemed to be always