acting this evening?"

"Not until three weeks next Monday," she replied. "Then, if you are
good, and the production is not postponed, you may seat yourself in a
box and make all the noise you like after the fall of the curtain. These
are real holidays for me, except for the nuisance of rehearsals. You
couldn't have come at a better time."

Sophy glanced at the clock.

"Well," she said, "I must show my respect to that most ancient of adages
by taking my departure. I feel--"

"You will do nothing of the sort, child," Louise interrupted. "I want to
interest you in the evolution of Mr. Strangewey."

"I don't feel that I am necessary," Sophy sighed. "Perhaps I might take
him off your hands some evening when you are busy."

"On this first evening, at any rate," Louise insisted, "we are going to
be a truly harmonious party of three."

"Of course, if you really mean it," Sophy remarked, resuming her seat,
"and if I sha'n't make an enemy for life of Mr. Strangewey, I should
love to come, too. Let's decide what to do with him, Louise."

For a moment the eyes of the two others met. Louise looked swiftly away,
and John's heart gave a little leap. Was it possible that the same
thought had been in her mind--to spend the evening quietly in that
little room? Had she feared it?

"We must remember," Louise said calmly, "that a heavy responsibility
rests upon us. It is his first night in London. What aspect of it shall
we attempt to show him? Shall we make ourselves resplendent, put on our
best manners and our most gorgeous gowns, and show him the world of
starch and form and fashion from the prince's box at the opera? Or shall
we transform ourselves into Bohemians, drink Chianti at our beloved
Antonio's, eat Italian food in Soho, smoke long cigarettes, and take him
to the Palace? Don't say a word, Sophy. It is not for us to choose."

"I am afraid that isn't any choice," John declared, his face falling. "I
haven't any clothes except what you see me in."

"Hooray!" Sophy exclaimed. "Off with your smart gown, Louise! We'll be
splendidly Bohemian. You shall put on your black frock and a black hat,
and powder your nose, and we'll all go to Guido's first and drink
vermuth. I can't look the part, but I can act it!"

"But tell me," Louise asked him, "did you lose your luggage?"

"I brought none," he answered.

They both looked at him--Sophy politely curious, Louise more deeply
interested. He answered the inquiry in her eyes.