ess
is over. We are to be separated by the cruelty of man, as usual.
Good-night, my dear! Good-night, Mr. Ayrton! Pray forgive us for keeping
you out of bed so long; and receive my thanks for restoring my long-lost
husband to my arms. Didn't you say that the hansom was waiting,
Stephen?"

"I expect the man has been asleep for the last half-hour," said her
husband.

"I hope nothing has gone astray with the gold mine," said she. "Hasn't
someone made a calculation regarding the accumulation of a shilling
hansom fare at compound interest when the driver is kept waiting? It is
like the sum about the nails in the horse's shoe. We shall be ruined if
we remain here much longer."

"Ah, my dear," said Mr. Ayrton, when he had kissed her hand, and
straightened the sable collar of her wrap; "ah, my dear, a husband is a
husband."

"Even when he stays away from his wife for three months at a time?" said
Ella.

"Not in spite of that, but on account of it," said Mr. Ayrton. "Have you
been married all these years without finding that out?"

"Good-night!" said she.

CHAPTER XXII.

HE HAD EXPLAINED TO PHYLLIS ONCE THAT HE THOUGHT OF GOD ONLY AS A
PRINCIPLE.

The sound of the hansom wheels died away before the father and daughter
exchanged a word. Mr. Ayrton was the first to speak.

"It seems to have been a night of mischance," said he.

"I am very glad that Mr. Linton has returned," said she.

"What? Now, why should you be glad of that very ordinary incident?"

"Why? Oh, papa, I am so fond of her!"

"She may be fond of him, after all."

Mr. Ayrton spoke musingly.

"Of course she is," said Phyllis, with a positiveness that was designed
to convince herself that she believed her own statement.

"And he may be fond of her--yes, at times," resumed Mr. Ayrton. "That
toilet of hers seems to have been the only happy element in the game of
cross-purposes which was played to-night."

"Ah," whispered the girl.

"Yes; it was in inspiration. She could not have expected her husband
to-night. What a dress! Even a husband would be compelled to admit its
fascination. And she said she meant to wear it at the opera to-night. It
was scarcely an opera toilet, was it?"

"Ella's taste is never at fault, papa."

"I suppose not. I wonder if he is capable of appreciating the--the--let
us say, the inspiration of that toilet. Is that, I wonder, the sort of
dress that a man likes his wife to wear when she welcomes him home after
an ab