ses' Ball.

He thought he must have slept, for he shook himself and thought: "What
nonsense! Surely the soul leaves the body while we are asleep, and only
the animal remains!"

It was now almost daylight, and two hansom-cabs had stopped before the
portico, and several persons who were coming up the steps were chattering
away like wakened linnets. One voice was saying:

"Mr. Drake proposes that we should all go to the theatre, and if we can
get a late pass I should like it above everything." It was Glory, and a
fretful voice answered her:

"Very well, if _you_ say so. It's all the same to _me_." It was Polly;
and then a man's voice said:

"What night shall it be, then, Robert?"

And a second man's voice answered, with a drawl, "Better let the girls
choose for themselves, don't you know."

John Storm felt his hands and feet grow cold, and he stepped out into the
porch. Glory saw him coming and made a faint cry of recognition.

"Ah, here is Mr. Storm! Mr. Storm, you should know Mr. Drake. He was in
the Isle of Man, you remember----"

"I do _not_ remember," said John Storm.

"But you saved his life, and you ought to know him----"

"I do _not_ know him," said John Storm.

She was beginning to say, "Let me introduce----" But she stopped and
stood silent for a moment, while the strange light came into her gleaming
eyes of something no word could express, and then she burst into noisy
laughter.

A superintendent Sister going through the hall at the moment drew up and
said, "Nurse, I am surprised at you! Go to your rooms this instant!" and
the girls whispered their adieus and went off giggling.

"What a glorious night it has been!" said Glory, going upstairs.

"I'm glad you think so," said Polly. "To tell you the truth, I found it
dreadfully tiresome."

The two men lit their cigarettes and got back into one of the hansoms and
drove away.

"What a bear that man is!" said Lord Robert.

"Rude enough, certainly," said Drake; "but I liked his face for all that;
and if the Fates put it into his head to stand between me and
death--well, I'm not going to forget it."

"Give him a wide berth, dear boy. The fellow is an actor--an affected
fop. I met him at Mrs. Macrae's on Thursday. He is a religious actor and
a poseur. He'll do something one of these days, take my word for it."

And meanwhile John Storm had buttoned his long coat up to his throat and
was striding home through the echoing streets, with both hands c