moment's quiet. Then the light blazed again, flowers and confetti were
thrown, and club servants in livery carried round trays of champagne.

Clayton, standing glass in hand, surveyed the scene with a mixture of
satisfaction and impatience. He found Terry Mackenzie at his elbow.

"Great party, Clay," he said. "Well, here's to 1917, and may it bring
luck."

"May it bring peace," said Clayton, and raised his glass.

Some time later going home in the car with Mrs. Mackenzie, quiet and
slightly grim beside him, Terry spoke out of a thoughtful silence.

"There's something wrong with Clay," he said. "If ever a fellow had a
right to be happy--he has a queer look. Have you noticed it?"

"Anybody married to Natalie Spencer would develop what you call a queer
look," she replied, tartly.

"Don't you think he is in love with her?"

"If you ask me, I think he has reached the point where he can't bear the
sight of her. But he doesn't know it."

"She's pretty."

"So is a lamp-shade," replied Mrs. Terry, acidly. "Or a kitten, or a
fancy ice-cream. But you wouldn't care to be married to them, would
you?"

It was almost dawn when Natalie came in. Clayton had not been asleep.
He had got to thinking rather feverishly of the New-year. Without in any
way making a resolution, he had determined to make it a better year
than the last; to be more gentle with Natalie, more understanding with
Graham; to use his new prosperity wisely; to forget his own lack of
happiness in making others happy. He was very vague about that. The
search of the ages the rector had called happiness, and one found it by
giving it.

To his surprise, Natalie came into his bedroom, looking like some queer
oriental bird, vivid and strangely unlike herself.

"I saw your light. Heavens, what a party!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I hope you didn't mind my not going on."

"I wish you had. Clay, you'll never guess what happened."

"Probably not. What?"

"Well, Audrey just made it, that's all. Funny! I wish you'd seen some
of their faces. Of course she was disgraceful, but she took it off right
away. But it was like her--no one else would have dared."

His mouth felt dry. Audrey--disgraceful!

"It was in the stable, you know, I told you. And just at midnight the
doors opened and a big white horse leaped in with Audrey on his back. No
saddle--nothing. She was dressed like a bare-back rider in the circus,
short tulle skirts and tights. They nearly mobbed her w