u art my puppet and I have
nought to do with thy soul."

So Luke and Louisa did as convention bade them, and people stared at
them and asked them inane questions that were meant to be delicate,
but were supremely tactless. People too wondered what they meant to
do, when the engagement would be duly broken off, or what Colonel
Harris's--Louisa's father--attitude would be in all this. Somehow
after the first excitement consequent on Lord Radclyffe's open
acknowledgment of the claimant things had tamed off somewhat; Luke de
Mountford looked just the same as before, although awhile ago he had
been heir to one of the finest peerages in England and now was a
penniless son of a younger son. I don't know whether people thought
that he ought to look entirely different now, or whether he should
henceforth wear shabby dress clothes and gloves that betrayed the dry
cleaner; certain it is that when Luke entered a reception room, a
dozen lips were ready--had they dared or good-breeding allowed--to
frame the question:

"Well, and what are you going to do now?"

Or,

"Do tell us how it feels to find one's self a beggar all of a sudden."

Enterprising hostesses made great attempts to gather all parties in
their drawing rooms. With strategy worthy of a better cause they
manoeuvred to invite Philip de Mountford and Lord Radclyffe, and Luke
and Louisa--all to the same dinner party--promising themselves and
their other guests a subtle enjoyment at sight of these puppets
dancing to rousing tunes, beside which the most moving problem play
would seem but tame entertainment.

But Philip de Mountford--though as much sought after now as Luke had
been in the past--declined to be made a show of for the delectation of
bored society women; he declined all invitations on his own and Lord
Radclyffe's behalf.

So people had to be content to watch Luke and Louisa.

They were together at the Ducies' At Home. There was a crush, a
Hungarian band from Germany, a Russian singer from Bayswater, a great
many diamonds, and incessant gossip.

"Luke de Mountford is here--and Miss Harris. Have you seen them?"

"Oh, yes! we met on the stairs, and had a long chat."

"How do they seem?"

"Oh! quite happy."

"They don't care."

"Do they mean to break off the engagement?"

"I have heard nothing. Have you?"

"Louisa Harris has a nice fortune of her own."

"And Lord Radclyffe will provide for Luke."

"I don't think so. He practically turned him ou