ow and
so hard to accept. "I should rather enjoy paying them back," something
in her maliciously murmured.

She did not mean to marry Strefford--she had not even got as far as
contemplating the possibility of a divorce but it was undeniable that
this sudden prospect of wealth and freedom was like fresh air in her
lungs. She laughed again, but now without bitterness.

"Very good, then; we'll lunch together. But it's Streff I want to lunch
with to-day."

"Ah, well," her companion agreed, "I rather think that for a tete-a-tete
he's better company."

During their repast in a little restaurant over the Seine, where she
insisted on the cheapest dishes because she was lunching with "Streff,"
he became again his old whimsical companionable self. Once or twice she
tried to turn the talk to his altered future, and the obligations and
interests that lay before him; but he shrugged away from the subject,
questioning her instead about the motley company at Violet Melrose's,
and fitting a droll or malicious anecdote to each of the people she
named.

It was not till they had finished their coffee, and she was glancing at
her watch with a vague notion of taking the next train, that he asked
abruptly: "But what are you going to do? You can't stay forever at
Violet's."

"Oh, no!" she cried with a shiver.

"Well, then--you've got some plan, I suppose?"

"Have I?" she wondered, jerked back into grim reality from the soothing
interlude of their hour together.

"You can't drift indefinitely, can you? Unless you mean to go back to
the old sort of life once for all."

She reddened and her eyes filled. "I can't do that, Streff--I know I
can't!"

"Then what--?"

She hesitated, and brought out with lowered head: "Nick said he would
write again--in a few days. I must wait--"

"Oh, naturally. Don't do anything in a hurry." Strefford also glanced at
his watch. "Garcon, l'addition! I'm taking the train back to-night, and
I've a lot of things left to do. But look here, my dear--when you come
to a decision one way or the other let me know, will you? Oh, I don't
mean in the matter I've most at heart; we'll consider that closed for
the present. But at least I can be of use in other ways--hang it, you
know, I can even lend you money. There's a new sensation for our jaded
palates!"

"Oh, Streff... Streff!" she could only falter; and he pressed on gaily:
"Try it, now do try it--I assure you there'll be no interest to pay, and
no conditi