e in?--and it looks like a
certainty that they will."

"Seven years, most likely," said John Derringham a little bitterly. "Or
perhaps to the end of time. Your friend Mr. Green could tell you more
accurately than I. Does the fact interest you very deeply?"

"Yes," she said, and narrowed her eyes. "I am wildly interested in
everything that concerns you, of course--that is obvious."

"You will help me to fight, then, for the Opposition. Your social
talents are so great, dear Cecilia, you will make a most brilliant Tory
hostess," and he took her hand--he felt he must do something.

"I have always been on the winning side," she said, not more than half
playfully. "I do not know how I should like seven years of fighting an
uncertain fight. I might get extremely bored by it. I had no idea it
would last so long." And she laughed a little uncomfortably. "However,
we are perfectly modern, aren't we, John, and need not spend the entire
year fighting together--fortunately?"

"No," he said. "I am sure we shall be an admirable pair of citizens of
the world. And now I suppose I must let you go and dress for dinner. How
is our estimable friend, Miss Clinker? She is with you, I suppose?--or
have you friends staying in the hotel? You did not tell me in your
letters."

"I never waste sweetness upon the desert air," she said, smiling, with a
glitter in her eyes. "You did not appear over anxious to hear of my
doings. Our correspondence made me laugh sometimes. You never wrote as
though you had received any of my letters--yours were just masterpieces
of how little to say--and of how to say it beautifully!"

John Derringham shrugged his shoulders slightly; he did not defend
himself, and her anger rose. So that she was leaving the room with her
head in the air and two bright spots of pink in her cheeks.

Then he felt constrained to vindicate his position, so he put his arm
round her and drew her to him, intending to kiss her. But she looked up
into his face with an expression in her eyes which left him completely
repulsed. It was mocking and bitter and cunning, and she put out her
hand and pushed him from her.

"I do not want any of your caresses to-night," she said. "When I do,
I'll pay for them." And she swept from the room, leaving him quivering
with debasement.

CHAPTER XXX

There was fortunately a company assembled for dinner when John
Derringham descended to the restaurant and again joined his
_fiancee_--who never