ay speak to me again in
public or I'll kick him."

"That's your affair and his," said Aurora, delighted at having gained
her point; "but you hold your tongue, and you, Tempest?"

"I'll not say a word either," said the young man, with a shrug, "though
I don't see why you should save this blackguard's reputation."

"It's my own I'm thinking of, so don't you make any mistake. And now I
have both your promises?"

"Yes," said Sandal and Tempest, thinking it best to hush the matter up;
"but Hay--"

"I'll see to him. You two boys clear out and go home to bed."

"But we can't leave you alone with Hay," said Tempest.

"I'll not be alone with him," cried the little woman, imperiously; "my
companion is with me. What do you mean?"

"He might do you some harm."

"Oh! might he? You take me for a considerable idiot, I suppose. You get
along, boys, and leave me to fix up things."

Both young men protested again; but Aurora, anxious for her conversation
with Hay, bundled them out of the flat and banged the door to, when she
heard them whistling below for a hansom. Then she went to the
dining-room.

"You come along to the drawing-room," she said to Hay. "Miss Stably,
stop here."

"I haven't got my shawl," bleated the old lady.

"Oh, bother," Aurora ran to the other room, snatched up the shawl and
saw Miss Stably sitting down to knit, while she led Hay back into the
drawing-room. He looked round when he entered.

"Where are they?" he asked, sitting down.

"Gone; but it's all right. I've made them promise not to say--"

Grexon Hay didn't let her finish. He fell on his knees and kissed her
hand. His face was perfectly white, but his eyes were full of gratitude
as he babbled his thanks. No one could have accused him of being cold
then. But Miss Qian did not approve of this emotion, natural though it
was.

"Here, get up," she said, snatching her hand away. "I've got to speak
straight to you. I've done a heap for you, now you've got to do a heap
for me."

"Anything--anything," said Hay, whose face was recovering its normal
color. "You have saved me--you have."

"And much of a thing you are to save. You'll be cheating again in a week
or so."

"No," cried Hay, emphatically, "I swear I'll not touch a card again.
I'll marry Maud and turn respectable. Oh, what a lesson I've had! You
are sure those fellows won't speak?"

"No. That's all right. You can go on swindling as before, only," Miss
Qian raised a finger, "you'll h