out both her hands, 'so you've
come after all. Really, I was quite afraid you'd forgotten us. Why
didn't somebody tell me Vincent was here, Mabel? I would have hurried
over my dressing to come down. It's so very provoking, Vincent, but I
have to say good-bye in a hurry. My husband and I are going out to
dinner, and he wouldn't come home to change, so he will dress at his
chambers, and I have to go up and fetch him. And it's so late, and
they dine so ridiculously early where we're going, and he's sure to
keep me waiting such a time, I mustn't lose another minute. Will you
see me to the carriage, Vincent? Thanks. Has Marshall put the
footwarmer in, and is the drugget down? Then we'll go, please; and I
wish you every success in--over there, you know, and you must be
careful of yourself and bring home a nice wife.--Lincoln's Inn, tell
him, please.--Good-bye, Vincent, good-bye!'

And she smiled affectionately and waved her long-gloved hand behind
the window as the carriage rolled off, and all the time he knew that
it would not distress her if she never saw him again.

He went slowly back to the warm drawing-room, with its delicate
perfume of violets. He had no excuse for lingering there any
longer--he must say his last words to Mabel and go. But before he
could make up his mind to this another visitor was announced, who must
have come up almost as Mrs. Langton had driven off.

'Mr. Caffyn,' said Champion, imposingly, who had a graceful way of
handing dishes and a dignified deference in his bow which in his own
opinion excused certain attacks of solemn speechlessness and
eccentricity of gait that occasionally overcame him.

A tall, graceful young man came in, with an air of calm and ease that
was in the slightest degree exaggerated. He had short light hair,
well-shaped eyes, which were keen and rather cold, and a firm,
thin-lipped mouth; his voice, which he had under perfect control, was
clear and pleasant.

'Do you mean this for an afternoon call, Harold?' asked Mabel, who did
not seem altogether pleased at his arrival.

'Yes, we're not at home now, are we Mabel?' put in audacious Dolly.

'I was kept rather late at rehearsal, and I had to dine afterwards,'
explained Caffyn; 'but I shouldn't have come in if I had not had a
commission to perform. When I have done it you can send me away.'

Harold Caffyn was a relation of Mrs. Langton's. His father was high up
in the consular service abroad, and he himself had lately g