e turned away
from her so quickly that her cloak slipped from her shoulders.

"Oh, Paddy!" she exclaimed.

"I beg your pardon!" he answered, turning again and picking the cloak
from the ground.

"You're so ... so selfish," she said. "You want everything to be just as
you like it. You're just like Gilbert ... where is Gilbert?... I must
say good-night to him ... and that nice girl, Mary. I think it's a very
clever play, and she's such a nice girl, too. Oh, Gilbert, there you
are! Good-night! I've enjoyed everything so much ... a nice play and a
nice supper. Good-night, and do come and see me soon, won't you. Why not
come to-morrow with Paddy?..."

"Paddy?" said Gilbert.

"Yes, Henry Quinn. I call him Paddy. It seems natural to call him Paddy.
He's so Irish. Do come with him to-morrow, and bring all your press
cuttings with you and read them to me. Paddy wants to talk to me...."

Henry walked away from them. What sort of woman was this? he asked
himself. Was she totally insensitive? Was it impossible for her to
realise that she was hurting him?...

"Good-night, Quinny!"

He turned quickly to take Mary's hand.

"We're going back to Devonshire the day after to-morrow," she said.

"Are you?" he murmured vaguely.

"Yes. Good-night, Quinny!"

"Aren't you tired?" he asked.

"Oh, no," she answered. "I've enjoyed myself awfully much. Here's
Ninian! He's taking us back to our hotel. Good-night, Quinny!"

He hesitated for a moment or two. He wanted to suggest that he should go
with her instead of Ninian, but before he could speak he saw Cecily
moving down the room towards the street.

"Good-night, Mary!" was all he said.

6

Roger had taken Rachel home, and so, when Ninian had gone off with his
mother and Mary, there were only Henry and Gilbert left.

"Let's go home, Quinny," Gilbert said. "I'd like to walk if you don't
mind!"

"Very well," Henry replied.

They left the hotel and strolled across the street towards the National
Gallery.

"I wish it were the morning," Gilbert said. "I want to see the
newspapers!"

"It doesn't greatly matter what they say, does it?" Henry answered. "The
play's a success. The audience liked it."

"I want to read the notices all the same. Of course, I want to read
them. I shall spend the whole of to-morrow reading and re-reading them.
Just vanity!"

They walked past the Gallery, and made their way through the complicated
streets that lie behind the Strand, about Coven