colonel would discover the ink she had that day applied to the seams of her dress. Everyone was constrained and anxious to get to his or to her room for repairs. 

"Did you know Colonel Bowen was coming?" enquired Mrs. Craske-Morton, quite at her ease in the knowledge that "something had told her" to put on her best black silk and the large cameo pendant that made her look like a wine-steward at a fashionable restaurant. 

"He said he might drop in; but he's so casual that I didn't think it worth mentioning," said Patricia, conscious that the reply was unanimously regarded as unconvincing. 

Having finished her coffee Patricia rose in a leisurely manner. She was no sooner out of the door than a veritable stampede ensued. Everyone intended "just to slip upstairs for a moment," and each glared at the other on discovering that all seemed inspired by the same idea. 

Mrs. Craske-Morton went to her "boudoir" out of tactful consideration for the young lovers; Mrs. Hamilton went up to the drawing-room for the same reason. 

Patricia paused for a moment outside the door of the lounge. She put her cool hands to her hot cheeks, wondering why her heart should show so little regard for her feelings. She felt an impulse to run away and lock herself in her own room and cry "Go away!" to anyone who might knock. She strove to work herself into a state of anger with Bowen for daring to come an hour before the time appointed. 

As she entered the lounge, Bowen sprang up and came towards her. There was a spirit of boyish mischief lurking in his eyes. 

"I suppose," said Patricia as they shook hands, "you think this is very clever." 

"Please, Patricia, don't bully me." 

Patricia laughed in spite of herself at the humility and appeal in his voice. She was conscious that she was not behaving as she ought, or had intended to behave. 

"It seems an age since I saw you," he continued. 

"Forty-eight hours, to be exact," commented Patricia, forgetful of all the reproachful things she had intended to say. 

"You got the flowers?" as his eye fell on the carnations which Gustave had placed in a large bowl. 

"Yes, thank you very much indeed, they're exquisite. They made Miss Sikkum quite envious." 

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