d Miss De Voe mentally. "I suppose
some of the down-town places are not quite--but he wouldn't--" then she
said out loud: "I wonder if you men do as women do, when they dine
alone? Just live on slops. Now, what did you order to-night? Were you an
ascetic or a sybarite?"

"Usually," said Peter, "I eat a very simple dinner."

"And to-night?"

"Why do you want to know about to-day?"

"Because I wish to learn where you dined, and thought I could form some
conclusion from your menu." Miss De Voe laughed, so as to make it appear
a joke, but she knew very well that she was misbehaving.

"I didn't reply to your question," said Peter, "because I would have
preferred not. But if you really wish to know, I'll answer it."

"Yes. I should like to know." Miss De Voe still smiled.

"I haven't dined."

"Mr. Stirling! You are joking?" Miss De Voe's smile had ended, and she
was sitting up very straight in her chair. Women will do without eating
for an indefinite period, and think nothing of it, but the thought of a
hungry man fills them with horror--unless they have the wherewithal to
mitigate the consequent appetite. Hunger with woman, as regards herself,
is "a theory." As regards a man it is "a condition."

"No," said Peter.

Miss De Voe touched the bell again, but quickly as Morden answered it,
Peter was already speaking.

"You are not to trouble yourself on my account, Miss De Voe. I wish for
nothing."

"You must have--"

Peter was rude enough to interrupt with the word "Nothing."

"But I shall not have a moment's pleasure in your call if I think of you
as--"

Peter interrupted again. "If that is so," he said, rising, "I had better
go."

"No," cried Miss De Voe. "Oh, won't you please? It's no trouble. I'll
not order much."

"Nothing, thank you," said Peter.

"Just a chop or--"

Peter held out his hand.

"No, no. Sit down. Of course you are to do as you please. But I should
be so happy if--?" and Miss De Voe looked at Peter appealingly.

"No. Thank you."

"Nothing, Morden." They sat down again. "Why didn't you dine?" asked
Miss De Voe.

"I didn't care to face the storm."

"Yet you came out?"

"Yes. I got blue, and thought it foolish to stay indoors by myself."

"I'm very glad you came here. It's a great compliment to find an evening
with me put above dinner. You know I had the feeling that you didn't
like me."

"I'm sorry for that. It's not so."

"If not, why did you insist on my twice asking yo