passed out before him. She had dropped her
veil.

* * * * *

They drove down the Strand toward Knightsbridge. For a time there was a
significant silence. Then Sophy raised her veil once more and looked
toward John.

"Mr. Strangewey," she began, "you won't mind if I give you just a little
word of advice? You are such a big, strong person, but you are rather a
child, you know, in some things."

"This place does make me feel ignorant," he admitted.

"Don't idealize any one here," she begged. "Don't concentrate all your
hopes upon one object. Love is wonderful and life is wonderful, but
there is only one life, and there are many loves before one reaches the
end. People do such silly things sometimes," she wound up, "just because
of a little disappointment. There are many disappointments to be met
with here."

He took her hand in his.

"Little girl," he said, "you are very good to me, and I think you
understand. Are you going to let me feel that I have found a friend on
my first evening in London?"

"If you want me," she answered simply. "I like you, and I want you to be
happy here; and because I want you to be happy, I want you to come down
from the clouds and remember that you have left your hills behind and
that we walk on the pavements here."

"Thank you," he whispered, "and thank you for what you have not said. If
I am to find sorrow here instead of joy," he added, a little grimly, "it
is better for me to stumble into the knowledge of it by myself."

"Your hills have taught you just that much of life, then?" Sophy
murmured.

X

The Prince of Seyre handed his hat and stick to the parlor maid and
seated himself upon the divan.

"I should be very sorry," he said politely, as the maid left the room,
"if my coming has hastened the departure of your visitors."

"Not in the least," Louise assured him. "They were leaving when you were
announced. Sophy and I are taking Mr. Strangewey to a Bohemian
restaurant and a music-hall afterward."

"Fortunate Mr. Strangewey!" the prince sighed. "But, forgive me, why not
a more dignified form of entertainment for his first evening?"

"The poor man has no clothes," Louise explained. "He came to London
quite unexpectedly."

"No clothes?" the prince repeated. "It is a long journey to take in such
a fashion. A matter of urgent business, perhaps?"

Louise shrugged her shoulders. She had risen to her