before they parted. His plan was very clear in his
head. By the end of the evening she would have forgotten the exalted
mood which had led her into absurdity; she would listen to a few wise
and weighty words--such as he would have at command. Then the ludicrous
episode would be over and done with forever; to its likeness,
superficially at least rather strong, to that other scene in which he
had been chief actor his mind did not advert.

A very pleasant evening it proved; so that it prolonged itself,
naturally as it were and without express arrangement, beyond dinner and
the play, and embraced in its many hours a little supper and a long
drive in a cab to those distant regions where Cecily's house was
situated. There was no more talk of Blent; there was some of Harry's new
life, its features and its plans; there was a good deal about nothing in
particular; and there was not much of any sort as they drove along in
the cab at one o'clock in the morning.

But Harry's purpose was not forgotten. He bade the cabman wait and
followed Cecily into the house. He looked round it with lively interest
and curiosity.

"So this is where you came from!" he exclaimed with a compassionate
smile. "You do want something to make up for this!"

She laughed as she took off her hat and sank into a chair. "Yes, this
is--home," she said.

"Have you had a pleasant evening?" he demanded.

"You know I have."

"Are you feeling friendly to me?"

Now came the attitude; she threw herself into it and smiled.

"That's what I wanted," he went on. "Now I can say what I have to say."

She sat still, waiting to hear him. There was now no sign of uneasiness
about her. She smiled luxuriously, and her eyes were resting on his face
with evident pleasure. They were together again as they had been in the
Long Gallery; the same contentment possessed her. The inner feeling had
its outward effect. There came on him the same admiration, the same
sense that she commanded his loyalty. When she had come to his rooms
that afternoon he had found it easy to rebuke and to rule her. His
intent for the evening had been the same; he had sought to bring her to
a more friendly mind chiefly that she might accept with greater
readiness the chastening of cool common-sense, and a rebuke from the
decent pride which her proposal had outraged. Harry was amazed to find
himself suddenly at a loss, looking at the girl, hardly knowing how to
speak to her.

"Well?" she said. Wh