u."

He considered her for a moment with a heavy, fraternal appreciation.

"Yes," he said--"yes, it is a long time, Eve. But, of course, we
have each our own occupations, our own duties now. And being the
wife of a successful painter must involve almost as many as
being--if I may say so--a fairly successful barrister. Gratified as
we are, my dear--my mother and I--at the success of your marriage,
which has proved more brilliant even than we hoped, I must say that
we often regret having lost you. We are duller people, I fear, since
you have left us. However, we can still think of the old days, as
you, no doubt, do sometimes."

She gave a faint, little, elusive smile, behind her fan.

"Oh, I am afraid I have forgotten them," she said. Then she went on
quickly, before he had time to reply: "Another thing, too, I had
almost forgotten--to congratulate you--on Mr. Humphrey's death."

"My dear Eve!" He looked at her with some reproof, with an air of
finding her a little crude. "You should not say such things, Eve! I
deeply deplore----"

"Shouldn't I?" she asked flippantly. "Dick told me you were to
succeed to his seat. Isn't it true?"

He ignored her question, busied himself with an obdurate button on
his glove. She watched him over her fan, half smiling, with her
brilliant eyes.

"You are cynical," he remarked at last. "I dare say I shall get in.
Is Lightmark here?"

"Yes, he is here. He has taken Mrs. Van der Gucht--the American
Petroleum Queen they call her, don't they?--down to supper. She
wants him to paint her portrait, at his own price. He will be here
to fetch me at half-past eleven. I believe we have to move on
then."

"Move on?" he asked, with an air of mystification.

"Show ourselves at another house," she replied. "It's a convenient
practice, you know; one gets two advertisements in one night.
Besides, one saves one's self a little that way; one sometimes gets
an evening off."

"You talk as if you were an actress," he said, with offended irony.
"I don't understand your tone. Does Miss Masters accompany you?"

"I think not. Did you say you wanted to see her?"

"Particularly; it is chiefly for that I am here."

"She is a very nice girl," remarked his sister gently. "I hope----"
She hesitated slightly; then held out her hand to him, which
involuntarily he clasped. "I hope you will have a satisfactory
conversation, Charles."

He glanced at her for a moment silently, feeling a secret pleasure
in h