lly and Dicky have arrived. Robin and Dolly
wired for them this morning. They may be upstairs any moment. They were
having supper in the coffee-room when last I saw them." She patted her
hair. "Do I look an awful fright?"

I turned in the restricted space at my command and surveyed her.

"Do my eyes look wet?" she inquired, feeling in my pocket for my
handkerchief.

Kitty has large grey eyes. Once, during the most desperate period of our
courtship, I referred to them as "twin lakes"--an indiscretion which
their owner, in her less generous moments, still casts up to me. But
to-night the territory surrounding them presented a distinct appearance
of inundation. I continued to gaze. I thought of last night's ceaseless
vigil and to-day's long-drawn battle. My wife had borne the brunt of
all, and I had grudged her a few tears! My heart smote me.

"Kit!" I said suddenly; "poor Kit!"...

We were interrupted by the opening of the door and the entrance of what
I at first took to be a chimney-sweep's apprentice, but which proved to
be my brother-in-law, with evidence of electoral strenuousness written
thick upon him.

"Hallo, you two!" he remarked genially. Then, noticing our
unconventional economy of sitting-space--"Sorry! I didn't know. I
thought you'd given up that sort of thing years ago!"

I rose and shook myself.

"Come in, my son," I said.

"Righto!" replied Gerald. Then he addressed himself to a figure which,
with true delicacy of feeling, had shrunk back into the passage outside.

"Come in, Moke, old man. I've got them separated now!"

The discreet Master Donkin sidled respectfully in at the door, and
Gerald continued.

"Moke and I would like to say how pleased we are to hear about Phillis,"
he said, rather awkwardly for him. "We have just got to hear how really
bad she's been."

The resolution was seconded by a confirmatory mumble from Master Donkin.

"We met the nurse just now," continued Gerald, "and she told us about
the operation, and all that. It must have been a pretty thick day for
you, Adrian. And you're looking pretty rotten, too, Kitty," he added
with brotherly directness. "But do you people know what time it is?
Half-past eleven, nearly. The result should be out any minute. Aren't
you coming to the Town Hall? They'll want you to make a speech, or get
egged, or something."

I looked at my watch.

"Well, there's no particular reason why I shouldn't go--_now_," I said.
"What do you say, Kitty