ot be taking you
much out of your way?"

"Not at all," Jack returned with gallantry, breaking his engagement
without compunction. Thereupon, he bought their tickets, and sitting
beside her on the crimson velvet seats of a Richmond "Non-stop," plunged
recklessly into love at first sight. The moral obligation oppressing his
mind was swept away for the time being. How was it possible for it to be
otherwise, when he had come into the presence of his "Ideal" in the
flesh?

And Kitty, complete mistress of the situation, did not let him guess by
word or look that she had been equally impressed. It was thrilling to
think that this godlike person had a photograph of herself tucked away
somewhere among his goods and chattels. Naughty Joyce had confessed the
fact to her long ago, and she was beginning to feel that she now had him
in the hollow of her hand. She had no hesitation in improving the
acquaintance begun in such an unorthodox fashion; a friend of her
sister's was, naturally, a friend of hers. Such being the case, she
could afford to expand genially and to fan the flame her portrait had
kindled, experiencing for the first time in her life an answering glow.

* * * * *

Jack returned to London, deep in day-dreams and oblivious of his
surroundings. Kitty's face and Kitty's voice were with him all the way;
and he groaned in spirit at the thought of his madness and folly in the
past.

It was inconceivable that he could have been such a fool; that he should
have allowed himself to forget the high standards of life he had
cherished, for a low intrigue! The idea of being tied for life to Mrs.
Fox had been distasteful all along; but now it was intolerable! After
the vision of Kitty Wynthrop, it was impossible, any longer, to
contemplate marriage with a woman of Mrs. Fox's type! Whatever she might
think of him, he would not do it. He would infinitely rather put an end
to his life!

Of course, he was dishonourable. That went without saying. He had failed
ignominiously from the outset to behave as an upright and honourable
man. Self-analysis laid his pride in the dust and made him writhe in
self-condemnation.

If Kitty only knew, she would despise him as he deserved! She was so
pure, so perfectly wonderful! What a wife she would make! and so on, and
so forth. Jack endured agonies of remorse for a week, during which time
he was lost to the world; and then, with a temperamental rebound he
called