here."

"And I was sorry not to go, but we were in trouble at the time, and I
felt I ought to stay at home. Did you have a good time?"

"Fairly so. It suffered from contrast. It was amusing to meet Miss
Bennett in her new role."

"I met her a few weeks ago at the Carlton."

"So she told me." There was a meaning expression in his voice which
made the blood rush into Hope's face. He bent nearer to her, his eyes
fixed earnestly on hers. "What made you think that? What made you
imagine for a moment that she could be engaged to met."

"I can't tell you," replied Hope, truthfully enough. She stared down at
the programme, and became intently occupied in plaiting its cover
between her fingers. "I knew it was some one whom I had met at The
Shanty, and I took for granted that it was you."

"You can't truthfully tell me that you thought I was in love with her
last year?"

"N-no."

"Did it ever strike you that I was in love with some one else?" The
elbow moved its position and encroached on the corner of her own chair.
"Hope, I want you to answer a question. Did you refuse to let me call
upon you in town because you knew I loved you, and thought it was
impossible to care for me in return?"

The grey eyes were lifted at that with an air of startled disclaimer.

"Oh no, no! Quite the contrary!" cried Hope eagerly.

The next moment confusion seized her as she recognised the inference,
but the words were spoken beyond recall, and Ralph's glowing face showed
that he was not likely to forget them.

"You darling! Hope, do you mean it? Have we been misunderstanding each
other all this time?" He stretched his hand towards hen, then hurriedly
drew it back as an old lady put up her _pince-nez_ to regard him from
afar. "Hang these people! What a nuisance they are! I'll tell you a
secret, Hope. I fell in love with you that very first evening while you
were singing your little song, and I've been uncommonly miserable ever
since. Well?"

"Well--what?"

"One expects some response to a statement like that!"

Hope gave a soft, contented laugh.

"I--liked you too, and I have been _wretched_! What made you come here
to-day?"

"Truda told me about your interview, and volunteered the intelligence
that you seemed relieved to discover that I was not the happy man. She
spoke to Avice too, I imagine, for I was asked to join you this
afternoon in a very marked manner."

So Truda had repented her jealous exactions