asked falteringly--

"I wish you would tell me what you think of him personally! Do you
think he is--nice?"

"Tell me first what you think yourself."

"Honestly? You won't mind?"

"Not one single little bit! I told you he is a mere acquaintance."

"Then," said Claire deliberately, "I think he is the most horrible,
detestable, insufferable, altogether despicable creature I have ever met
in the whole of my life!"

"What! What! I say, you _are_ down on him!" Captain Fanshawe stared,
beamed with an obvious relief, then hastened to defend an absent man.
"You're wrong, you know; really you're wrong! I don't call Carew the
most attractive fellow you can meet; rather rough manners, don't you
know, but he's all right--Carew's all right. You mustn't judge by
appearances, Miss Gifford. Some of the most decent fellows in the Club
are in his set. Upon my word, I think he is quite a good sort."
Captain Fanshawe waxed the more eloquent as Claire preserved her
expression of incredulous dislike. He looked at her curiously, and
said, "I suppose I mustn't ask--I suppose you couldn't tell me exactly
why you are so interested in Carew?"

"I'm afraid not. No; I'm afraid I can't," Claire said regretfully.
Then suddenly there flashed through her mind a remembrance of the many
tangles and misunderstandings which take place in books for want of a
little sensible out-speaking. She looked into Captain Fanshawe's face
with her pretty dark-lashed eyes and said honestly, "I wanted to know
about him for the sake of--another person? _Nothing_ to do with myself!
I have only met him twice. I hope I shall never meet him again!"

"Thank you," said the man simply, and at the time neither of the two
realised the full significance of those quiet words. It was only on
living over the interview on her return home that Claire remembered and
understood!

For the next quarter of an hour they abandoned the personal note, and
discussed the various topics of the hour. They did not always agree,
and neither was of the type to be easily swayed from a preconceived
opinion, but always they were interested, always they felt a sympathy
for the other view, never once was there a fraction of a pause. They
had so much to say that they could have talked for hours.

Gradually the Park began to empty, the string of motors grew less, the
crowd on the footpath no longer lounged, but walked quickly with a
definite purpose; the green chairs stood in row