rity. Mavis, alone, hesitated.

Her husband urged her to go, although his physical disability would
prevent him from accompanying her.

"I want my dearest to go," he said. "It will give me so much pleasure
to know how wonderful you looked, and how everyone admired you."

Mavis decided to accept the invitation, largely because it was her
husband's wish; a little, because she had the curiosity to meet those
who would have been acquaintances and friends had her father been
alive. Her lot had been thrown so much among those who worked for daily
bread, that she was not a little eager to mix, if it were only for a
few hours, with her own social kind.

Mavis, again at Harold's wish, reluctantly ordered an expensive frock
for the dinner. It was of grey taffetas embroidered upon bodice and
skirt with black velvet butterflies. The night of the dinner, when
Mavis was ready to go, she showed herself to her husband before setting
out. He looked at her long and intently before saying:

"I shall always remember you like this."

"What do you mean?" she asked, a little afraid.

"It isn't what I expect. It's what I deserve for marrying a glorious
young creature like you."

"Am I discontented?" she asked proudly.

"God bless you. You're as good as you're beautiful," he replied.

As she stooped to kiss him, the prayer of her heart was:

"May he never know why I married him."

His eyes, alight with love, followed her as she left the room.

Major Perigal received his guests in the drawing-room. The first person
whom Mavis encountered after she had greeted her host was Windebank.
She recalled that she had not seen him since her illness at Mrs
Trivett's, He had written to congratulate her on her marriage when she
had come to stay with the Devitts; since then, she had not heard from
him.

Although Mavis knew that she might see him to-night, she was so taken
aback at meeting him that she could think of nothing to say. He
relieved her embarrassment by talking commonplace.

"Here's someone who much wishes to meet you," he said presently. "It's
Sir William Ludlow; he served with your father in India."

Mavis knew the name of Sir William Ludlow as that of a general with a
long record of distinguished service.

When he was introduced by Windebank, Mavis saw that he had soldier
written all over his wiry, spare person; she congratulated herself upon
meeting a man who might talk of the stirring events in which he had
taken so promin