. As if interpreting his thought, she added: "You
see, it is our last affair of the season, and we are all anxious to do
our duty perfectly. Will you go down with me? We can talk afterwards."

Her continued self-possession utterly confused him. She had utterly
confused Marion also, when told that her husband was in the house. She
had had presentiments, and, besides, she had been schooling herself for
this hour for a long time. She turned towards the door.

"But," he asked, like a supplicant, "our child! I want to see the boy."

She lifted her eyebrows, then, seeing the photograph of the baby on the
table, understood how he knew. "Come with me, then," she said, with a
little more feeling.

She led the way along the landing, and paused at her door. "Remember
that we have to appear amongst the guests directly," she said, as though
to warn him against any demonstration. Then they entered. She went over
to the cot and drew back the fleecy curtain from over the sleeping
boy's head. His fingers hungered to take his child to his arms. "He is
magnificent--magnificent!" he said, with a great pride. "Why did you
never let me know of it?"

"How could I tell what you would do?" she calmly replied. "You married
me--wickedly, and used me wickedly afterwards; and I loved the child."

"You loved the child," he repeated after her. "Lali," he added, "I don't
deserve it, but forgive me, if you can--for the child's sake."

"We had better go below," she calmly replied. "We have both duties to
do. You will of course--appear with me--before them?"

The slight irony in the tone cut him horribly. He offered his arm in
silence. They passed on to the staircase.

"It is necessary," she said, "to appear cheerful before one's guests."

She had him at an advantage at every point. "We will be cheerful, then,"
was his reply, spoken with a grim kind of humour. "You have learned it
all, haven't you?" he added.

They were just entering the ballroom. "Yes, with your kind help--and
absence," she replied.

The surprise of the guests was somewhat diminished by the fact that
Marion, telling General Armour and his wife first of Frank's return,
industriously sent the news buzzing about the room.

The two went straight to Frank's father and mother. Their parts were
all excellently played. Then Frank mingled among the guests, being
very heartily greeted, and heard congratulations on all sides. Old club
friends rallied him as a deserter, and new acquai