ainst the temptation with a jest, for he felt that the
pretty creature could not really know: "You forget the disappointment of
Mrs. Barker."

She repeated the name wonderingly and he explained. "My landlady. If I
do not return she will imagine I have run away to cheat her."

It was a poor jest, but only a jest, and he was benumbed at its effect.
The lady frowned terribly upon him. Anger swept her lovely features like
a thunder-cloud.

"How could you?" she cried in heavenly wrath. "How paltry! How pitiable!
I knew you for a cheerful gentleman, but to find you a trivial
scoffer----"

"Why, what have I done?" he stammered, amazed. "It was a mere joke--a
laughing phrase--a word----"

"Done!" she echoed. "We were both upon the heights, and with your
phrase--your joke--your word, you drag us down to the abyss of banality
again. I----"

Her petulance annoyed him.

"Really, madam," he said bitingly, "I am sorry to have spoiled it--to
have 'let down the scene,' as they say on the stage. But as I seem to
have offended you I shall take my leave."

"If you do," she cried, "I shall never speak to you again. I swear it!"

He stood irresolute. After all, she looked such a darling when she was
angry....

"Well," he said, temporizing, "if I stay for a while, will you promise
to be sensible?"

"Never!" she flashed, stamping her foot, and darted from the room.

Amusement and anger struggled for the victory in Lionel's heart.
"Confound her for her folly!" he thought, and then, "Bless her for her
inconsequence!" He sat down and lighted a cigarette, expecting her
return at any minute, determined to stick to his resolve and sleep at
home.

When twenty minutes had passed he reflected, "She is standing on her
dignity. How foolish!" Ten minutes later he murmured, with a pained
accent, "She is human after all." By the time his fourth cigarette was
half-consumed he had fairly lost his temper. "This is not good enough,"
he said; "I will let myself out and call to-morrow. If she refuses to
see me, at least I shall have kept my self-respect. No woman shall treat
me like a dog."

Grumbling, he opened the door and went quietly out into the hall. He
listened for a moment, waiting to give her the chance to reappear and
part as friends. There was no sound: if it had not been for the light
still burning in the hall he would have sworn that the household had
gone to sleep.

With a sigh he put on his hat and opened the inner door. He an