nella decided, smiling
toward Arnold.

"I am sorry," he replied, "but I, too, seem to be unfortunate. I
could not possibly get away from the city in time."

"Absurd!" she answered, a little sharply. "You are like a boy with a
new hobby. It is I who wish that you leave when you choose."

"Apart from that," Arnold continued, "I am sorry, but I have an
engagement for the evening."

She made a little grimace.

"With your invalid friend?"

Arnold assented.

"I should not like to leave her alone this evening. She has been in
a great deal of trouble lately."

There was a moment's silence. A slight frown had gathered on
Fenella's forehead.

"I noticed that she was dressed wholly in black," she remarked.
"Perhaps she is in trouble because she has lost a relative lately?"

"She appears to have no relatives in the world," Arnold declared,
"except an uncle, and he, I am afraid, is a little worse than
useless to her."

Sabatini, who had been listening, leaned a little forward.

"She lives entirely alone with the uncle of whom you have spoken?"
he asked.

"Up till yesterday she has done so," Arnold answered gravely. "Just
at present, as you know, he has gone away. I only wish that I could
find him."

"Going away, as you put it," Fenella murmured, "seems to be rather
the fashion just now."

Arnold glanced up quickly but her expression was entirely innocent.
He looked across the table, however, and found that Sabatini was
watching him pensively. Fenella leaned towards him. She spoke almost
in a whisper, but her tone was cold, almost unfriendly.

"I think," she said, "that with regard to that young woman you carry
chivalry too far."

Arnold flushed slightly. Then Sabatini, with a little murmur of
words, changed the conversation. Once more it became entirely
general, and presently the meal drew towards a pleasant termination.
Fenella and Lady Blennington left together. At the moment of
departure, the former turned towards Arnold.

"So I cannot induce you to become my escort for to-night?" she
asked.

There was appeal, half humorous, half pathetic in her eyes. Arnold
hesitated, but only for a moment.

"I am sorry," he said, "but indeed I shall not be able to leave the
office until after the time for the theatre."

"You will not obey my orders about the office?"

"I could not, in any case, leave Ruth alone this evening," he
replied.

She turned away from him. The little gesture with which she refused
to s