announcement came for which
both girls had been impatiently waiting.

"Miss Morton, Mr Gloucester."

The girl swept in with the assurance of an intimate friend. Robert
Gloucester followed slowly, his spare figure towering above hers, his
face set and strained. Vanna saw at a glance that he was consumed with
nervousness, and during the first ten minutes of his stay he hardly
allowed himself a glance in Jean's direction. When she handed tea he
took it with eyes fixed on the cup, and promptly sought the corner by
Vanna's side to mumble platitudes about the weather, and listen absently
to her replies.

How long would Jean allow so unsatisfactory a state of affairs? "I'll
give her five minutes," was Vanna's verdict; but before that time had
elapsed Jean had so cleverly manipulated the conversation that Vanna was
being questioned across the length of the drawing-room, so that it
seemed the most natural thing in the world to suggest a change of seats.

"Come over here, Vanna, dear, and tell them all about it! I'll talk to
Mr Gloucester!" Jean floated across the room in her white dress, and
laid a caressing hand on her friend's shoulder. It was a pure impulse
of coquetry which made her take the rose from her belt as she seated
herself in the discarded corner of the sofa. One could make such pretty
by-play with a flower, twirling it to and fro, stroking the petals,
daintily drinking in its fragrance. To the woman that rose gave an
added consciousness of power; from the man the sight of it took away
what little composure he retained. His hand shook until the teaspoon
rattled against the cup; and he placed it unemptied on the table by his
side. He stammered; he was unhinged, tongue-tied. Jean, who had been
prepared to rebuke self-confidence, adopted an instant change of
tactics. Her little airs and graces died a rapid death; the tilt of the
head was replaced by a gentle droop, her complacent smile changed to an
artless appeal. The poor, dear man must be encouraged. He had been
buried in the wilds, with lions and elephants for companions; he was all
unnerved to find himself in an English drawing-room, face to face with a
pretty girl.

"I've waited such a long time to see you," said Jean softly. "Edith and
I are great friends and she has told me so much about you. I could
stand quite a stiff examination on your doings and goings of the last
few years. Some day you shall cross-question me and see. When I've