do it again. It
was so hot."

"Must have been simply beastly."

Maurice jerked his arm; a vase which was standing at his elbow upset,
and the water trickled to the floor. Neither offered to help him; he
had to stoop and mop it up with his handkerchief.

For a few moments longer, the conversation was eked out. Then Herries
rose. With her hand in his, he said earnestly: "Now you must be
merciful and relent. I shan't give up hope. Any time in the next
fortnight is time enough, remember. 'Pon my word, I've dreamt of those
waltzes of ours ever since. And the floor at the PRUSSE is still
better, don't you know? You won't have the heart not to come."

From under her lids, Louise shot a rapid glance at Maurice. He, too,
had risen; he was standing stiff, pale, and solemn, visibly waiting
only till Herries had gone, to make himself disagreeable. She smiled.

"Don't ask me to give an answer to-day. I'll let you know--will that
do? A fortnight is such a long time. And then you've forgotten the
chief thing. I must see if I have anything to wear."

"Oh, I say! ... if that's all! Don't let that bother you. That black
thing you had on last time was ripping--awfully jolly, don't you know?"

Louise laughed. "Well, perhaps," she said, as she opened the door.

"Good business!" responded Herries.

He nodded in Maurice's direction, and they went out of the room
together. Maurice heard their voices in laughing rejoinder, heard them
take leave of each other at the halldoor. After that there was a pause.
Louise lingered, before returning, to open a letter that was lying on
the hall-table; she also spoke to Fraulein Grunhut. When she did come
back, all trace of animation had gone from her face. She busied herself
at once with the flowers he had disarranged, and this done, ordered her
hair before the hanging glass. Maurice followed her movements with a
sarcastic smile.

Suddenly she turned and confronted him.

"Maurice! ... for Heaven's sake, don't glare at me like that! If you've
anything to say, please say it, and be done with it."

"You know well enough what I have to say." His voice was husky.

"Indeed, I don't."

"Well you ought to."

"Ought to?--No: there's a limit to everything! Take your hat off that
table!--What did you mean by bursting into the room when you heard some
one was here? And, as if that weren't enough--to let everybody see how
much at home you are--your behaviour--your unbearable want of
manners..." She st