st which I can flick from my dress makes me unclean. It's a long
journey we are making. And I always think it's a great mistake to fuss
on a journey."

"I don't know anyone who can give me what you do," said Charmian.

"It's a long journey up the Ray," said Susan.

"The Ray?" said Charmian, seized with a sense of mystery.

"The bridge that leads from the personal which perishes to the immortal
which endures."

"I can't help loving the personal. I'm not like you. I do love the
feeling of definite personality, separated from everything, mine, me.
It's no use pretending."

"Pretence is always disgusting."

"Yes, of course. But still--never mind, I was only going to say
something you wouldn't agree with."

Susan did not ask what it was, but quietly turned the conversation, and
soon succeeded in ridding Charmian of her faint self-consciousness.

"I want you to meet--him."

At last Charmian had said it, with a slight flush.

"I have met him," returned Miss Fleet, in her powerful voice.

"What!" cried Charmian, on an almost indignant note.

"I met him last night."

"How could you? Where? He never goes to anything!"

"I went with Adelaide to the Elgar Concert at Queen's Hall. He was there
with a musical critic, and happened to be next to us."

Charmian looked very vexed and almost injured.

"Mrs. Shiffney--and you talked to him?"

"Oh, yes. Adelaide introduced us."

There was a silence. Then Charmian said:

"I don't suppose he was his real self--with Adelaide Shiffney. But did
you like him?"

"I did. I thought him genuine. And one sees the spirit clearly in his
face."

"I'm sure he liked you."

"I really don't know."

"I do. Did he--did you--either of you say anything about me?"

"Certainly we did."

"Did he--did he seem--did you notice whether he was at all--? Caroline,
be quiet!"

The dachshund, who had shown signs of an intention to finish her reverie
on Charmian's knees, blinked, looked guilty, lay down again, turned over
on her left side with her back to her mistress, and heaved a sigh that
nearly degenerated into a whimper.

"I suppose he talked most of the time with Mrs. Shiffney?"

"Well, we had quite five minutes together. I spoke about our time at
Mustapha."

"Did he seem interested?"

"Very much, I thought."

"Very much! Oh, Susan! But he has a manner of seeming interested. It may
not mean anything. But still I do think since I have come back he sees
that I am not quite a n