ed to the class of man who never counts the cost of anything
and is ready to go any lengths in the pursuit of a fancy. He thought he
had been extremely patient, and told himself earlier in the evening that
before the week was out things would have to be settled one way or the
other. And he was not without weapons, either. Sir George could have
unfolded a tale in that respect had he chosen to do so. The Baronet was
proud, but there are times when pride has to take a second place, and
such a crisis in his affairs had arrived. May would have been surprised
to learn that Copley could at any moment sell the old home over their
heads and turn them out to shift as best they might.

She sat with her face on her hand, looking at the stage, but she was not
listening to Melba's marvellous voice. Her mind had gone back to a
somewhat similar scene two years ago when she was last in the same opera
house. How different things had seemed then! How much happier she had
been in those days! She roused herself presently to find that Copley was
addressing her.

"Oh, I beg pardon," she said. "I suppose the singing carried me away.
What were you saying?"

Copley uttered something appropriate. There was a hard look in his eyes
as he took in the details of May's fresh beauty. She was just the wife
for him. She had a fine appearance and good breeding and would take him
into certain houses the _entree_ of which had as yet been denied him.
They were going on afterwards to supper at the Carlton, and before he
slept that night Copley would know his fate; indeed, he knew it already.
He had a kind of instinct that May disliked him. But that, after all,
was a small matter. When she learned the truth there would be no
alternative. That her dislike might turn into hatred mattered nothing to
Copley. He bent down already with an air of possession which brought a
faint flush into May's cheeks. She was feeling rebellious.

"You are enjoying it?" he asked.

"Oh, yes. I should be a strange creature if I didn't. I have so few
treats like this."

"Isn't that your own fault?" Copley returned. "Surely, you must know
that if you only liked to say the word----"

A sudden outburst of applause drowned the rest of his speech, but to all
intents May heard everything that he had to say. She blamed herself that
she had not shown this man earlier that her feelings towards him were
merely conventional. And now she would have to make up her mind one way
or the other.