ched Hyde Park
Corner. John leaned forward all the time, immensely interested in the
stream of passers-by.

"Your interest in your fellow creatures," she murmured demurely, "is
wonderful, but couldn't you concentrate it just a little?"

He turned quickly around. She was smiling at him most alluringly.
Unconsciously he found himself smiling back again. A wonderful
light-heartedness seemed to have come to him during the last few hours.

"I suppose I am a perfect idiot," he admitted. "I cannot help it. I am
used to seeing, at the most, three or four people together at a time. I
can't understand these crowds. Where are they all going? Fancy every
one of them having a home, every one of them struggling in some form or
another toward happiness!"

"Do you know," she pronounced severely, "for a young man of your age you
are much too serious? Please commence your psychological studies
to-morrow. To-night we are going to have a really frivolous evening, you
and I--and Louise. If you want to be a great success during the next few
hours, what you have to do is to imagine that there are only two people
in the world beside yourself--Louise and I."

"I think I shall find that very easy," he promised, smiling.

"I am quite sure you could be nice if you wanted to," she continued.
"How much are you in love with Louise?"

"How much am I what?"

"In love with Louise," she repeated. "All the men are. It is a perfect
cult with them. And here am I, her humble companion and friend,
absolutely neglected!"

"I don't believe you are neglected at all," he replied. "You are too
much too--"

He turned his head to look at her. She was so close to him that their
hats collided. He was profuse in his apologies.

"Too what?" she whispered.

"Too attractive," he ventured.

"It's nice to hear you say so," she sighed. "Well, I have to get out
here. This is where I live, up on the fourth floor."

"How does one get there?" he inquired.

She looked at him quickly. There was a little catch in her breath.

"What do you mean?" she murmured.

"Didn't you say that I was to come and fetch you, and then we could go
on to Miss Maurel's together?"

"Of course," she assented slowly. "How stupid of me! Some day I'll show
you, but I know you would lose the way now. If you like, I'll come for
you--to the Milan."

"If you would really prefer it?"

"I am quite sure that I should," she decided. "There are about seven
turns up to my room, and I shall