ow, but give
me time." And he took out his watch as already to measure it. "Oughtn't
I before I go to say a word to Lord Theign?"

"Is it your idea to become a lion in his path?"

"Well, say a cub--as that's what I'm afraid he'll call me! But I think I
should speak to him."

She drew a conclusion momentarily dark. "He'll have to learn in that
case that I've told you of my fear."

"And is there any good reason why he shouldn't?"

She kept her eyes on him and the darkness seemed to clear. "No!" she at
last replied, and, having gone to touch an electric bell, was with him
again. "But I think I'm rather sorry for you."

"Does that represent a reason why I should be so for you?"

For a little she said nothing; but after that: "None whatever!"

"Then is the sister of whom you speak Lady Imber?"

Lady Grace, at this, raised her hand in caution: the butler had arrived,
with due gravity, in answer to her ring; to whom she made known her
desire. "Please say to his lordship--in the saloon or wherever--that
Mr. Crimble must go." When Banks had departed, however, accepting the
responsibility of this mission, she answered her friend's question. "The
sister of whom I speak is Lady Imber."

"She loses then so heavily at bridge?"

"She loses more than she wins."

Hugh gazed as with interest at these oddities of the great. "And yet she
still plays?"

"What else, in her set, should she do?"

This he was quite unable to say; but he could after a moment's
exhibition of the extent to which he was out of it put a question
instead. "So _you're_ not in her set?"

"I'm not in her set."

"Then decidedly," he said, "I don't want to save her. I only want--"

He was going on, but she broke in: "I know what you want!"

He kept his eyes on her till he had made sure--and this deep exchange
between them had a beauty. "So you're now _with_ me?"

"I'm now _with_ you!"

"Then," said Hugh, "shake hands on it"

He offered her his hand, she took it, and their grasp became, as you
would have seen in their fine young faces, a pledge in which they stood
a minute locked. Lord Theign came upon them from the saloon in the midst
of the process; on which they separated as with an air of its having
consisted but of Hugh's leave-taking. With some such form of mere
civility, at any rate, he appeared, by the manner in which he addressed
himself to Hugh, to have supposed them occupied.

"I'm sorry my daughter can't keep you; but I must at least