instinct had told
her, for she had at that time known nothing of Heath's refusal. She had
supposed that he had not yet been invited. Mrs. Shiffney had invited her
not for herself, but as a means of getting hold of Heath. Charmian was
positive of that. Months ago, in Max Elliot's music-room, the girl had
divined the impression made by Heath on Mrs. Shiffney, had seen the
restless curiosity awake in the older woman. She had even noticed the
tightening of Mrs. Shiffney's lips when she, Charmian, had taken Heath
away from the little group by the fire, with that "when you've quite
done with my only mother," which had been a tiny slap given to Mrs.
Shiffney. And she had been sure that Mrs. Shiffney meant to know Heath.
She had a great opinion of Mrs. Shiffney's social cleverness and
audacity. Most girls who were much in London society had. She did not
really like Mrs. Shiffney, or want to be intimate with her, but she
thoroughly believed in her flair, and that was why the note had stirred
in Charmian excitement and uncertainty. If Mrs. Shiffney thought she
saw something, surely it was there. She would not take shadow for
substance.

But might she not fire a shot in the dark on the chance of hitting
something?

"Why did she ask me instead of mother?" Charmian said to herself again
and again. "If she had got mother to go Claude Heath would surely have
gone. Why should he go because I go?"

And then came the thought, "She thinks he may, perhaps thinks he will.
Will he? Will he?"

The note had abruptly changed an opinion long held by Charmian. Till it
came she had believed that Claude Heath secretly disliked, perhaps even
despised her. Mrs. Shiffney on half a sheet of note-paper had almost
reassured her. But now would come the test. She would accept; Mrs.
Shiffney would ask Claude Heath again, telling him she was to be of the
party. And then what would Heath do?

As she wrote her answer Charmian said to herself, "If he accepts Mrs.
Shiffney was right. If he refuses again I was right."

She sent the note to Grosvenor Square by a boy messenger, and resigned
herself to a period of patience.

CHAPTER VI

By return there came a note hastily scribbled:

"Delighted. I will let you know all the particulars in a day or two.--A.
S."

But two days, three days, a week passed by, and Charmian heard nothing
more. She grew restless, but concealed her restlessness from her mother,
who asked no questions. Claude Heath did no