d, looking rather regretfully at her
empty plate. "I told you things were all right. There's grilled
chicken--Maryland chicken--coming, and green corn."

"Have I got to eat the corn like that man opposite?" he asked anxiously.

"You can eat it how you like," she answered.

"Watch me, if you want to. I don't care. I ain't tasted green corn since
I can remember, and I'm going to enjoy it."

"You don't like your claret, I'm afraid," he remarked.

She sipped it and set down the glass a little disparagingly.

"If you want to know what I would like," she said, "it's just a Martini
cocktail. We don't drink wines over here as much as you folk, I guess."

He ordered the cocktails at once. Every now and then he watched her. She
ate delicately but with a healthy and unashamed appetite. A little colour
came into her cheeks as the room grew warmer, her lower lip became less
uncompromising. Suddenly she laid down her knife and fork. Her eyes were
agleam with interest. She pulled at his sleeve.

"Say, that's Stella!" she exclaimed excitedly. "Look, she's coming this
way! Don't she look stunning!"

A girl, undeniably pretty, with dark, red-gold hair, wearing a long
ermine coat and followed by a fashionably dressed young man, was making
her way up the room. She suddenly recognised Philip's companion and came
towards her with outstretched hand.

"If it isn't Martha!" she cried. "Isn't this great! Felix, this is Miss
Grimes--Martha Grimes, you know," she added, calling to the young man who
was accompanying her. "You must remember--why, what's the matter with
you, Felix?"

She broke off in her speech. Her companion was staring at Philip, who was
returning his scrutiny with an air of mild interrogation.

"Say," the young man enquired, "didn't I meet you on the _Elletania_?
Aren't you Mr. Douglas Romilly?"

Philip shook his head.

"My name is Ware," he pronounced, "Merton Ware. I have certainly never
been on the _Elletania_ and I don't remember having met you before."

The young man whose name was Felix appeared almost stupefied.

"Gee whiz!" he muttered. "Excuse me, sir, but I never saw such a likeness
before--never!"

"Well, shake hands with Miss Grimes quickly and come along," Stella
enjoined. "Remember I only have half an hour for dinner now. You coming
to see the show, Martha?"

"Not to-night," that young woman declared firmly.

The two passed on after a few more moments of amiable but, on the part of
the young ma