mebody else's husband"), and they came straight to us, marching
solemnly, like a deputation.

"Angel child," said Molly (we all think of her as "Molly"), "I noticed
you looking a little wan, so Jack and I just waltzed out to see how you
were, and also to pat Mr. Storm figuratively on the back."

"Why--what has happened?" inquired the princess almost wildly.

"Such fun! Envy is the sincerest flattery, so Mr. Storm ought to be
pleased that Mr. Caspian hasn't loved him since the day he had his great
inspiration about Marcel and Kidd's Pines. It appears that our
vaudevillain (isn't that a nice name for dear Eddy?) passed round the
word that Mr. Storm had no invitation to this dance, when all the time
he had come on the behest of some fearfully celebrated man in New York
every one seems to bow down to. Collapse of the gunpowder plot!"

"Oh, I'm _so_ thankful!" sighed dear Molly's Angel Child. She clapped
her hands and gave a little skip. Then I guessed in a flash why she had
looked pale, why she had wanted to get me out of the ballroom, and why
she'd been ready to defy old Lady Grundy in order to keep me safe, and
avoid hurting the poor secretary-chauffeur's feelings by telling him
what was up. That was the moment, my friend, when I realized that I'd
always been wrong and you'd always been right. I knew that the girl lit
the world for me.

Again I ask you, What am I going to do about it?

I don't believe she's in love with me. It was only that she couldn't
bear to have me humiliated, and was willing to make a sacrifice to save
me pain. But I do believe I could make her love me if I tried.

The kind angel as good as admitted the cause of her illness by making a
quick recovery and going in with Captain Winston while I followed with
his wife. Molly, by the way, almost confessed she'd suspected that Pat
was anxious for my welfare, and had come out to relieve the girl's mind.
Do you wonder at the state of mine? I'm bound to add that my rescue
didn't seem to restore her spirits permanently. She looked rather "wan,"
as Molly said, all the rest of the evening; or it may have been the
effect of a green dress she wore. Certainly she was somewhat _piano_ in
manner, too; and despite her pal's slap at Caspian, the princess didn't
treat him as if he were the dragon of the opera. On the contrary, she
sat out several dances with him. I bear her no grudge, though! She
hadn't the air of enjoying his society.

We were to have started f