one-bell rang as they were leaving the room. John put the
receiver to his ear and a moment later held it away.

"It is Sophy," he announced. "Shall I tell them to send her up?"

"Sophy, indeed!" Louise exclaimed. "I thought she was in the country, on
tour, and was not expected back until to-morrow."

"I thought she went away for a week," John said, "but there she is,
waiting down-stairs."

Louise hesitated for a moment. Then she came over to John with a
tremulous little smile at the corners of her lips.

"Dear," she said, "I am in a strange frame of mind to-day. I don't want
even to see Sophy. Tell them to send her up here. She can wait for you
while you take me out the other way."

"May I tell her?" John asked, as he rang for the lift. "She has been
such a good little pal!"

Once more Louise seemed to hesitate. A vague look of trouble clouded her
face.

"Perhaps you had better, dear," she agreed spiritlessly. "Only tell her
not to breathe it to another soul. It is to be our secret for a little
time--not long--just a day or two longer."

The gates of the lift swung open, and John raised her fingers to his
lips.

"It is for you to say, dear," he promised.

When he came back to his room, Sophy was curled up on the couch with a
cigarette between her lips. She looked at him severely.

"I am losing faith in you," she declared. "There are signs of a hurried
departure from this room. There is a distinct perfume of roses about the
place. You have always told me that I am the only visitor of my sex you
allow here. I am fiercely jealous! Tell me what this tea-tray and the
empty cups mean?"

"It means Louise," he answered, smiling. "She has just this moment gone
away."

Sophy sighed with an air of mock relief.

"Louise I suppose I must tolerate," she said. "Fancy her coming here to
tea with you, though!"

"I have been up to Cumberland for a day," he told her, "and Louise came
to meet me at the station."

"How is your angel brother?" she asked. "Did he ask after me?"

"He did mention you," John confessed. "I don't remember any direct
message, though. You want a cocktail, of course, don't you?"

"Dying for it," she admitted. "I have had such a dull week! We've been
playing in wretched little places, and last night the show went bust.
The manager presented us with our fares home this morning. We were only
down in Surrey, so here I am."

"Well, I'm glad to see you back again," John told her, after he had
ord