I--do you remember? And I have a jolly look out over the garden. When
will you come?"

"When you like. But chaperons seem to be necessary!"

"Oh, I can provide one--any number! Some of the wives of our married
fellows are great friends of mine. I should like you to know them. But
wouldn't Mrs. Hooper bring you?"

"Will you write to her?"

He looked a little confused.

"Of course I know your uncle very well. He and I work together in many
things. May I come and call?"

"Of course you may!" She laughed again, with that wilful sound in the
laugh which he remembered. He wondered how she was going to get on at
the Hoopers. Mrs. Hooper's idiosyncrasies were very generally known. He
himself had always given both Mrs. Hooper and her eldest daughter a wide
berth in the social gatherings of Oxford. He frankly thought Mrs. Hooper
odious, and had long since classed Miss Alice as a stupid little thing
with a mild talent for flirtation.

Then, as he held out his hand to say good-bye, he suddenly remembered
the Vice-Chancellor's party.

"By the way, there's a big function to-night. You're going, of course?
Oh, yes--make them take you! I hadn't meant to go--but now I shall--on
the chance!"

He grasped her hand, holding it a little. Then he was gone, and the
Hoopers' front door swung suddenly wide, opened by some one invisible.

Connie, a little flushed and excited, stepped into the hall, and there
perceived Mrs. Hooper behind the door.

"You are rather late, Constance," said that lady coldly. "But, of
course, it doesn't matter. The servants are at their dinner still, so I
opened the door. So you know Mr. Sorell?"

From which Constance perceived that her aunt had observed her approach
to the house, in Mr. Sorell's company, through the little side window of
the hall. She straightened her shoulders impatiently.

"My father and mother knew him in Rome, Aunt Ellen. He used to come to
our apartment. Is Uncle Ewen in the study? I want to speak to him."

She knocked and went in. Standing with her back to the door she said
abruptly--

"I hope you won't mind, Uncle Ewen, but I've been buying a few things we
want, for my room and Annette's. When I go, of course they can be turned
out. But may I tell the shop now to send them in?"

The Reader turned in some embarrassment, his spectacles on his nose.

"My dear girl, anything to make you comfortable! But I wish you had
consulted me. Of course, we would have got anything you real