. I will send for Eggis; he will have no
objection."

"Why drag in that cad's name? You know very well if you do go, it will
be with me, and no one else."

A slight estrangement grew up between them. Maurice was hurt: she had
shown too openly the small value she set on his opinion. In addition to
this, he was disagreeably affected by her craving for excitement at any
cost. To his mind, there was more than a touch of impropriety in the
proceeding; it was just as if a mourner of a few months' standing
should suddenly discard his mourning, and with it all the other
decencies of grief.

She had not been entirely wrong in accusing him of unreadiness to
accompany her. When he pictured to himself the astonished faces of his
friends, he found it impossible to look forward to the event with
composure. He saw now that it would have been better to make no secret
of his friendship with Louise; so harmless was it that every one he
knew might have assisted at it; but now, the very abruptness of its
disclosure would put it in a bad light. Through Dove, he noised it
abroad that he would probably be present at the ball after all; but he
shunned Madeleine with due precaution, and could not bring himself even
to hint who his companion might be. In his heart, he still thought it
possible that Louise might change her mind at the last moment--take
fright in the end, at what she might have to face.

But the night came, and this had not happened. While he dressed himself
in the hired suit, which was too large here, too small there, he laid a
plan of action for the evening. Since it had to be gone through with,
it must be carried off in a highhanded way. He would do what he could
to make her presence in the hall seem natural; he would be attentive,
without devoting himself wholly to her; and he would induce her to
leave early.

He called for her at eight o'clock. The landlady said that Fraulein was
not quite ready, and told him to wait in the passage. But the door of
the room was ajar, and Louise herself called to him to come in.

It was comparatively dark; for she had the lamp behind the screen,
where he heard her moving about. Her skirts rustled; drawers and
cupboards were pulled noisily open. Then she came out, with the lamp in
her hand.

Maurice was leaning against the piano. He raised his eyes, and made a
step forward, to take the lamp from her. But after one swift, startled
glance, he drew back, colouring furiously. For a moment