e fluffs at the tips, each of which shone not like gold
but like glass. It was well worth all the nudging that it called forth.

But when Mrs. Linton had picked it up from the ledge, beginning to
oscillate it in front of her fair face, the nudging ceased. People
looked at the thing with eyes wide with astonishment, but with lips
mute.

A more satisfactory evening she had never spent, Mrs. Linton felt; and
now the fan was hanging down among the brocaded flowers of her dress,
making them look tawdry as she left the box, and noticed how at
least two men were lying in wait for her party. There was, however, a
frankness in Herbert Courtland's strategy which George Holland's did
not possess. Mr. Courtland was looking directly at her; Mr. Holland was
pretending to be engrossed in conversation with a man in one of the end
stalls.

She lifted a finger and Courtland went to her side. The difficulties of
the jungle along the banks of the Fly River were trifling compared with
the obstacles he had to overcome in obeying her.

"I had no idea that you would be here," she said.

"Where else should I be?" he said, in so low a tone as to be heard only
by her.

"We are so glad," said Mrs. Linton. "I want to present you to my dearest
friend, Phyllis Ayrton."

"A woman!" said he.

"Not yet. She has never met a man. She will to-night," said Ella. Then
she turned to Phyllis, who was walking beside Lord Earlscourt. "Come
here, Phyllis," she said; "you are the only person in London who doesn't
yet know Mr. Herbert Courtland. This is Mr. Courtland."

Thus it was that Phyllis went upon the stage of the Parthenon by the
side of Herbert Courtland instead of by the side of George Holland;
and the little laugh that Mrs. Linton gave was due to her careful
observation of the latter's face when he perceived, as he did in spite
of the engrossing nature of his conversation with his friend in the end
stall, how his designs had been defeated by her tactics. She would not
have minded having Herbert Courtland with her for the hour they might
remain at the theater, but she had made up her mind that it was not
to Phyllis' advantage that Mr. Holland should continue by her side in
public after she had given him his dismissal.

She also perceived, with even greater gratification, that Herbert
Courtland was looking nearly as dissatisfied with the result of her
tactics as George Holland. If he had looked pleased at being by the side
of Phyllis when he e