she asked, with unusual brusqueness.
"You almost look as if you had a fever. Your eyes are glittering."

Clodagh laughed nervously, and put one hand to her cheek.

"Nothing is the matter."

Lady Frances's lip curled slightly.

"You should go to bed early."

"Yes. Early in the morning! I feel I could sit up all night."

"Playing bridge?"

Again Clodagh laughed, this time a little recklessly.

"Why not?" she asked. "Will you play to-night?"

"Not here. George is rather a stickler--where his relations are
concerned."

"And his guests?"

Clodagh's question was quick and a little anxious.

"Oh, his guests can amuse themselves as they like, of course."

"Then I shall play to-night--if I can find any one to play with."

Lady Frances looked over her shoulder, attracted by the sound of
voices.

"Well, here comes Rose!" she said. "Press her into your service! She
won't refuse, if you give her Mr. Mansfeldt as a partner. The set she
has made on that man the whole afternoon is perfectly disgraceful."

She turned with a smile to Mrs. Bathurst.

"Ah, Rose! How nice to see you! And you are just in time. We have been
taking your name in vain."

Clodagh became the centre of a noisy party until dinner was announced.
And during the meal itself, the same air of inconsequent gaiety was
maintained in her regard, for she sat between Serracauld and his uncle.

A dozen topics were touched upon during the course of the meal--the
latest sporting gossip, the latest social scandal, the latest Parisian
play, all were discussed, and all laughed over the triviality of the
world that has few prejudices, few responsibilities, fewer ideals.

From time to time, during the easy flow of this light talk, she found
herself stealing surreptitious glances down the long table to where
Gore was seated between Lady Diana Tuffnell and her sister; but not
once did she surprise a glance from him. It seemed that he had very
successfully banished her from his mind.

After dinner the whole party left the dining-room together, as was the
custom at Tuffnell, some to play billiards, some to stroll in the
gardens, others to find their way to the music-room, where Lady Diana
usually gathered a little audience to listen to her singing. On this
evening Clodagh was amongst the first to pass out of the dining-room;
and moving into the centre of the hall, she paused and looked
expectantly over her shoulder.

As she had anticipated, Deerehurst appeare