t to understand Bob Bantling," Ralph
added. "He is a very simple organism."

"Yes, but Henrietta's a simpler one still. And, pray, what am I to do?"
Isabel asked, looking about her through the fading light, in which the
limited landscape-gardening of the square took on a large and effective
appearance. "I don't imagine that you'll propose that you and I, for our
amusement, shall drive about London in a hansom."

"There's no reason we shouldn't stay here--if you don't dislike it. It's
very warm; there will be half an hour yet before dark; and if you permit
it I'll light a cigarette."

"You may do what you please," said Isabel, "if you'll amuse me till
seven o'clock. I propose at that hour to go back and partake of a simple
and solitary repast--two poached eggs and a muffin--at Pratt's Hotel."

"Mayn't I dine with you?" Ralph asked.

"No, you'll dine at your club."

They had wandered back to their chairs in the centre of the square
again, and Ralph had lighted his cigarette. It would have given him
extreme pleasure to be present in person at the modest little feast she
had sketched; but in default of this he liked even being forbidden. For
the moment, however, he liked immensely being alone with her, in the
thickening dusk, in the centre of the multitudinous town; it made her
seem to depend upon him and to be in his power. This power he could
exert but vaguely; the best exercise of it was to accept her decisions
submissively which indeed there was already an emotion in doing. "Why
won't you let me dine with you?" he demanded after a pause.

"Because I don't care for it."

"I suppose you're tired of me."

"I shall be an hour hence. You see I have the gift of foreknowledge."

"Oh, I shall be delightful meanwhile," said Ralph.

But he said nothing more, and as she made no rejoinder they sat
some time in a stillness which seemed to contradict his promise of
entertainment. It seemed to him she was preoccupied, and he wondered
what she was thinking about; there were two or three very possible
subjects. At last he spoke again. "Is your objection to my society this
evening caused by your expectation of another visitor?"

She turned her head with a glance of her clear, fair eyes. "Another
visitor? What visitor should I have?"

He had none to suggest; which made his question seem to himself silly as
well as brutal. "You've a great many friends that I don't know. You've a
whole past from which I was perversely exclude