e me!" he thought, as he descended the
stairs that led to the stalls. "I wonder why it is that I'm full of
sympathy and understanding and tact in my books, and such a clumsy fool
in life!"

He entered the stalls, and as he did so, Lady Cecily rose to join him.
Jimphy had already gone to the bar. He held the curtain for her and she
passed through. "Isn't it clever?" she said, speaking of the play, and
he nodded his head. The passage leading up from the stalls was full of
chattering people, but when they reached the narrow corridor which led
to the box, there was no one about....

"Cecily!" he said in a low voice.

"Yes, Paddy!" she answered, looking back over her shoulder.

He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her towards him.

"Some one will see you," she said.

"No, they won't," he replied, "and I don't care...."

He kissed her ardently. "My dear!" he murmured with his lips on hers.

She pushed him from her. "You _are_ a fool," she said.

"I couldn't help it!"

Their voices were low lest the people in the box should hear them.

"You must never do that again," she said. "I'd never have forgiven you
if any one had seen us!"

"What are you afraid of, Cecily?" he asked.

She made a gesture of despair. "Haven't you _any_ sense?" she said.

She turned to go towards the box again, but he caught hold of her hand
and held her.

"Cecily," he whispered, "you know I love you, don't you?"

"Yes, yes," she answered impatiently, snatching her hand from his, "but
you needn't tell everybody about it!"

"And you love me, too. Don't you?"

"Let's go and join the others!..."

He held her again. "No, Cecily," he said, "you must listen to me!"

"Well, what is it?"

"Cecily!" He was breathing hard, and it seemed to him that he could only
speak by forcing words out of himself. "Cecily ... come with me! ..."

"That's what I want to do, but you keep me hanging about here. If any
one were to see us!..."

"I don't mean that," he interrupted. "You know quite well what I
mean!..."

"What _do_ you mean? I don't know!..."

He went closer to her, trying to waken her passion by the strength of
his. "I want you to leave Jimphy and come away with me," he said.

"Leave Jimphy!"

"Yes. You're not happy ... you're not suited to each other. Come with
me!"

"Like this?" she said, holding out her hands and mocking him.

"That doesn't matter," he urged. "We'll go somewhere...."

"Fly to Ireland, I suppose, in eveni