eave him; a glance
at him brought her back, and she looked down at him for a minute.
Presently a troubled doubtful little smile appeared on her face; when
she realized it was there, she promptly banished it. Alas! It was too
late. The rascal had been peeping through his fingers, and, with a
ringing laugh, he sprang to his feet, caught both her hands, and cried,
"Shocking, wasn't it? Awful?"

"Let me go, Mr. Ellerton."

"Must I?"

"Yes, yes."

"Why? Why, when you----?"

"Sir Roger's coming. Look behind you."

"Oh, the deuce!"

An instant later they were sitting demurely at opposite ends of the
seat, inspecting Villeneuve with interest.

In another moment Deane stood before them, puffing a cigarette, and
wearing an expression of amiability tempered by boredom.

"Wonderful old place, isn't it, Deane?" asked Charlie.

"Such a view, Sir Roger!" cried Dora, in almost breathless enthusiasm.

"You certainly," assented Deane, "do see some wonderful sights on this
Promenade. I'm glad I came up. The air's given you quite a color, Miss
Dora."

"It's tea-time," declared Dora suddenly. "Take me down with you, Sir
Roger. Mr. Ellerton, go and tell the others we're going home to tea."

Charlie started off, and Sir Roger strolled along by Miss Bellairs's
side. Presently he said:

"Still anxious to get to Paris?"

"Why shouldn't I be?" she asked quickly.

"I thought perhaps the charms of Avignon would have decided you to
linger. Haven't you been tempted?"

Dora glanced at him, but his face betrayed no secondary meaning.

"Tempted? Oh, perhaps," she answered, with the same nervous little
laugh, "but not quite led astray. I'm going on."

CHAPTER VIII

MR. AND MRS. ASHFORTH (1)

All that evening Miss Bellairs was not observed--and Deane watched her
very closely--to address a word to Charlie Ellerton; even 'good-night'
was avoided by a premature disappearance and unexpected failure to
return. Perhaps it was part of the same policy of seclusion which made
her persuade Lady Deane to travel to Paris with her in one compartment
and relegate the men to another--a proposal which the banished accepted
by an enthusiastic majority of two to one. The General foresaw an
infinity of quiet naps and Deane uninterrupted smoking; Charlie alone
chafed against the necessary interruption of his bold campaign, but, in
face of Dora's calm coldness of aspect, he did not dare to lift up his
voice.

Lady Deane was so engrossed i