Bourne End for this next
week-end--the week-end you are spending with Mrs. Faraday," he
continued, glancing toward Louise.

Louise nodded. She looked at John critically.

"Quite a success in town, isn't he?" she remarked to Sophy. "People
tumble over one another to get invitations for her week-end parties in
the season. I must say I never heard of going down to Bourne End in
February, though."

"The idea seemed rather pleasant to me," John confessed. "So many of you
people know nothing of the country except just in the summer!"

"If John gets talking about the country," Louise said, "we shall not be
allowed our proper share in the conversation for the rest of the
evening. The question is, are we to allow him to go down to Bourne End?
Lady Hilda isn't exactly a Puritan where your sex is concerned, you
know, John."

"She'll expect you to flirt with her," Sophy insisted.

"She won't," John replied. "I have told her that I am in love with
Louise."

"Was there ever such a man in the world?" Louise exclaimed. "Tell me,
what did Lady Hilda say to that?"

"Not much," he answered. "She suggested that her cousin had a prior
claim on you."

Louise laid down her knife and fork. Her left hand clutched the piece of
toast which was lying by her side. She began to crumble it up into small
pieces.

"What did Lady Hilda say exactly?" she insisted.

"Nothing much," John replied. "She seemed surprised when I mentioned
your name. I asked her why, and she told me, or rather she hinted, that
you and the prince are very great friends."

"Anything more?"

"Nothing at all. I pointed out that the prince is interested in
theatrical affairs, and that he is the chief member of the syndicate
that runs the theaters. She seemed to understand."

There was a brief silence. Louise was once more looking a little tired.
She changed the subject abruptly, and only returned to it when John was
driving home with her.

"Do you know," she said, after a long silence, "I am not at all sure
that I want you to go to Lady Hilda's!"

"Then I won't," he promised with alacrity. "I'll do just as you say."

Louise sat quite still, thinking, looking through the rain-splashed
windows of the taxicab.

"You have only to say the word," John continued. "I should be flattered
to think that you cared."

"It isn't that. Lady Hilda is very clever, and she is used to having her
own way. I am afraid!"

"Afraid of what?"

"Of nothing," Louise declared sudd