flushed with excitement as she made this hasty
explanation. She had purposely left it till a crowded moment, for Aunt
Philippa was apt to be very searching in her inquiries, and Chris shrank
at all times from being catechized by this somewhat formidable relative
of hers.

"Trevor knows all about him; they are friends," she added, in response to
a slight drawing of the brows, with which she was tragically well
acquainted.

"All?" murmured Max in her ear from her other side, with a mischievous
twinkle in his green eyes.

Chris ignored him, but she turned a vivid crimson, and the hand she
stretched to Mordaunt was quivering with agitation. But in his quiet
grasp it became still. She looked up into his eyes and smiled a welcome
with recovered self-possession.

"Oh, Trevor, here you are! And you've brought Bertie as you promised."
She gave her other hand to Bertrand with the words, but she did not speak
to him--she went on talking to her _fiance_. "I've had a tremendous day,
and thank you a million times for--you know what. It's a good thing you
booked your dances beforehand, for I haven't any left."

"Not one for me?" murmured Bertrand, as he bent over her hand.

She turned to him with a radiant smile. "Yes, yes, of course! Should I be
likely to forget all old pal like you? Trevor, will you introduce him to
Aunt Philippa?"

"My friend Mr. Bertrand," said Mordaunt promptly.

Mrs. Forest acknowledged the introduction with extreme chilliness. She
strongly disapproved of Chris's faculty for developing unexpected
friendships. The child was so regrettably free-and-easy in all her ways.
Of course, if Trevor Mordaunt approved of their intimacy, and apparently
he did, there was nothing to be said, but she herself could not regard it
with favour. Once more she congratulated herself that her
responsibilities where Chris was concerned were nearly at an end.

But if her greeting were cold, Bertrand scarcely had time to remark it,
for his attention was instantly diverted by the red-haired youth who
lounged behind her. Max, whose presence had been annoying his aunt all
day, thrust out a welcoming hand to the new-comer.

"Hullo!" he said. "You, is it?"

Bertrand raised his brows. He gave his hand, after an instant's
hesitation, with a non-committing, "Myself--yes."

Max drew him aside out of the crowd. "It's all right. I'm Chris's
brother, and I shan't give you away. But how long do you expect to remain
incog., I wonder? I