nament.

In less than the promised fifteen minutes Mrs. Bal appeared again, very
lovely and ridiculously young in a short blue serge dress, with a turned
down collar that showed her firm white throat. I was allowed to remain
with Barrie while "Barbara" went up to see my sister; and the ice being
broken between us, we chatted comfortably of everyday things, I
unreasonably happy because I had got in ahead of Somerled for once. It
began to seem like a game of chess between us; I--directed by
Aline--playing against Somerled. If Aline upstairs were at this minute
making the move she planned, it would be check to his queen, Barrie of
course being queen.

The only questions I ventured to ask the girl, and those in a casual
way, were, "Had she heard from or seen Somerled since yesterday
afternoon? And what was the programme for her, during this week of the
new play in Edinburgh?"

Her answers were that she had neither seen nor heard from Somerled, and
that she didn't know what she was to do during the week. She hoped to
see something of Edinburgh. She supposed we--and Mr. Somerled--would
soon be leaving for the west or north. But she had written Mr. Douglas,
by Barbara's request, and he was very nice. He might be counted on to
show her things. He was invited to call this afternoon with his cousin.
Jack Morrison had written asking to come too, and Barbara said that he
might do so--bringing his three friends. She--Barrie--must be very, very
careful always to say "Barbara" and never--the _other_. She could
_quite_ understand now how the darling felt, though it had seemed queer
at first.

By and by Mrs. Bal returned, and I saw by the light in her eyes and the
colour on her cheeks that the conversation with Aline had been
interesting. Hardly had she arrived and begun demanding from her various
maids various things wanted at the theatre, when Somerled sent up to beg
a moment's talk with her.

"Tell the gentleman I shall be delighted," she said to the hotel
servant: and I saw that she was smiling the impish smile which Barrie
has inherited.

"So glad you came before I got away!" she exclaimed, shaking hands with
Somerled. "Five minutes more and I should have missed you. I'm due at
the theatre now. The poor wretches are rehearsing without me, but I must
turn up for a scene, at eleven!"

"I won't keep you five minutes," said Somerled, quietly. "I only want to
ask if you'll let Barrie--provided she'd like it--" he glanced at the