any risks. Julia resolved to
take the matter into her own hands. Alec was starting next day, and he
had promised to look in towards the evening to bid them good-bye. Julia
wrote a note to Lucy, asking her to come also.

When she told Dick, he was aghast.

'But it's a monstrous thing to do,' he cried. 'You can't entrap the man
in that way.'

'I know it's monstrous,' she answered. 'But that's the only advantage of
being an American in England, that one can do monstrous things. You look
upon us as first cousins to the red Indians, and you expect anything
from us. In America I have to mind my p's and q's. I mayn't smoke in
public, I shouldn't dream of lunching in a restaurant alone with a man,
and I'm the most conventional person in the most conventional society in
the world; but here, because the English are under the delusion that New
York society is free and easy, and that American women have no
restraint, I can kick over the traces, and no one will think it even
odd.'

'But, my dear, it's a mere matter of common decency.'

'There are times when common decency is out of place,' she replied.

'Alec will never forgive you.'

'I don't care. I think he ought to see Lucy, and since he'd refuse if I
asked him, I'm not going to give him the chance.'

'What will you do if he just bows and walks off?'

'I have his assurance that he'll behave like a civilised man,' she
answered.

'I wash my hands of it,' said Dick. 'I think it's perfectly
indefensible.'

'I never said it wasn't,' she agreed. 'But you see, I'm only a poor,
weak woman, and I'm not supposed to have any sense of honour or
propriety. You must let me take what advantage I can of the disabilities
of the weaker sex.'

Dick smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

'Your blood be upon your own head,' he answered.

'If I perish, I perish.'

And so it came about that when Alec had been ten minutes in Julia's cosy
sitting-room, Lucy was announced. Julia went up to her, greeting her
effusively to cover the awkwardness of the moment. Alec grew very pale,
but made no sign that he was disconcerted. Only Dick was troubled. He
was obviously at a loss for words, and it was plain to see that he was
out of temper.

'I'm so glad you were able to come,' said Julia, in order to show Alec
that she had been expecting Lucy.

Lucy gave him a rapid glance, and the colour flew to her cheeks. He was
standing up and came forward with outstretched hand.

'How do you do?' he sai