st he could.

Somehow the right time did not come to ask him what he intended to do;
for at the table, or if occasionally they were on deck together, they
were never alone.

The ship docked late in the morning, and Knight was busy with the
custom-house men. It was noon when their luggage had been examined and
could be sent away; and the Waldos, under letter "W," were released at
the same moment that the Nelson Smiths, under "S," were able to escape.

"Let's have lunch at the dear old Waldorf, our pet place and almost
namesake," proposed Mrs. Waldo. "You _owe_ us that, after all the times
you entertained us in London; and you really see New York in the
restaurant. You've nothing to do till your train goes this afternoon,
and your husband can get your reservations right there in the hotel."

Annesley's eyes went doubtfully to Knight's, and met a steady look which
seemed to say that he had made up his mind to some course.

"Very well, we shall be delighted," she said, resignedly. "Shall we meet
at the--Waldorf--is it?--at luncheon time?"

"Oh, _my_, no!" exclaimed the older woman, radiant in the joy of
home coming. "It'll be lunch time in an hour. You _must_ taxi up to
Sixty-first Street with us, and just _glance_ at the house, or we shall
be _so_ hurt. Then we'll spin you down to the hotel again in no time. I
wish we could feed you at home, but nothing will be in shape there till
to-night."

There was still no chance for Annesley to ask Knight the long-delayed
question. They saw and duly admired the Waldos' house, and took another
taxi to the hotel, the Nelson Smiths' luggage having been "expressed"
to the Grand Central, to await them. Steve Waldo tried to engage his
favourite table, and Mrs. Waldo suggested that it would be a good moment
to get the reservations.

Again Annesley's startled glance turned to Knight. Again his eyes
answered with decision. This time there was no longer any doubt in the
girl's mind. The Waldos, persistent to the last, would compel her to
leave New York with her husband.

But whatever happened she would part with him forever before darkness
fell. "At the first big town," she told herself once more.

They were at the desired table, which Steve had secured, when Knight
rejoined them, announcing that he had his tickets.

"I hope you were able to get a nice stateroom?" fussed Mrs. Waldo. "Such
a _long_ journey, and Mrs. Smith's first day in our country!"

"Yes. Everything satisfactory