e only thing that
can make me happy, and the absence of which would make me miserable."

"What thing?"

"Your society." He blushed up to his eyes as he heard this. "Now that,
I think, is a very pretty speech, and I expect something equally pretty
from you." He was much embarrassed, but was at the moment delivered
from his embarrassment by the entrance of his wife. "Here she is," said
Mrs. Houghton, getting up from her chair. "We have been just talking
about you, my dear. If you have come for bagatelle, you must play with
Lord George, for Jack De Baron isn't here."

"But I haven't come for bagatelle."

"So much the better, for I doubt whether Lord George would be very good
at it. I have been made to play so much that I hate the very sound of
the balls."

"I didn't expect to find you here," said Mary, turning to her husband.

"Nor I you, till Mrs. Houghton said that you were coming."

After that there was nothing of interest in their conversation. Jack
did not come, and after a few minutes Lord George proposed to his wife
that they should return home together. Of course she assented, and as
soon as they were in the brougham made a little playful attack upon
him. "You are becoming fond of Berkeley Square, I think."

"Mrs. Houghton is a friend of mine, and I am fond of my friends," he
said, gravely.

"Oh, of course."

"You went there to play that game with Captain De Baron."

"No, I didn't. I did nothing of the kind."

"Were you not there by appointment?"

"I told her that I should probably call. We were to have gone to some
shop together, only it seems she has changed her mind. Why do you tell
me that I had gone there to play some game with Captain De Baron?"

"Bagatelle."

"Bagatelle, or anything else! It isn't true. I have played bagatelle
with Captain de Baron, and I daresay I may again. Why shouldn't I?"

"And if so, would probably make some appointment to play with him."

"Why not?"

"That was all I said. What I suggested you had done is what you declare
you will do."

"But I had done nothing of the kind. I know very well, from the tone of
your voice, that you meant to scold me. You implied that I had done
something wrong. If I had done it, it wouldn't be wrong, as far as I
know. But your scolding me about it when I hadn't done it at all is
very hard to bear."

"I didn't scold you."

"Yes you did, George. I understand your voice and your look. If you
mean to forbid me to play bagatelle with