ust touched Stella's
cheek in passing. "Hullo, Bernard! About time for a drink, isn't it?"

He looked momentarily surprised when Stella swiftly turned her head and
kissed the hand that had so lightly caressed her. He stopped beside her
and laid it on her shoulder.

"I am afraid you won't approve of me when I tell you what I have been
doing," he said.

She looked up at him. "I know. Tommy came in and told us. You--seem to
have done something rather great. I suppose we ought to congratulate
you."

He smiled a little. "It is always satisfactory when a murderer gets his
deserts," he said, "though I am afraid the man who does the job is not
in all cases the prime malefactor."

"Ah!" Stella said. She folded up her work with hands that were not quite
steady; her face was very pale.

Everard stood looking down at the burnished coils of her hair. "Are you
going to the dance at the Club to-night?" he asked, after a moment.

She shook her head instantly. "No."

"Why not?" he questioned.

She leaned back in her chair, and looked up at him. "As you know, I
never was particularly fond of the station society."

He frowned a little. "It's better than nothing. You are too given to
shutting yourself up. Bernard thinks so too."

Stella glanced towards her brother-in-law with a slight lift of the
eyebrows. "I don't think he does. But in any case, we are engaged
to-night. It is Tessa's birthday, and she and Scooter are coming to
dine."

"Coming to dine! What on earth for?" Everard looked his astonishment.

"My doing," said Bernard. "It's a surprise-party. Stella very kindly
fell in with the plan, but it originated with me. You see, Princess
Bluebell is ten years old to-day, and quite grown up. Mrs. Ralston had a
children's party for her this afternoon which I was privileged to
attend. I must say Tessa made a charming hostess, but she confided to me
at parting that the desire of her life was to play Cinderella and go out
to dinner in a 'rickshaw all by herself. So I undertook then and there
that a 'rickshaw should be waiting for her at the gate at eight o'clock,
and she should have a stodgy grown-up entertainment to follow. She was
delighted with the idea, poor little soul. The Ralstons are going to the
Club dance, and of course Mrs. Ermsted also, but Tommy is giving up the
first half to come and amuse Cinderella. Mrs. Ralston thinks the child
will be ill with so much excitement, but a tenth birthday is something
of an occas