For their honeymoon they were going to a seaside town on the East Coast. 

"Wouldn't it be nicer in Devonshire or at the lakes, Chris?" Miss Chester had asked timidly, but Chris had answered: 

"Good lord, no! There's nothing to do there. We must go somewhere lively." 

So he had chosen the liveliest town on the East Coast and the liveliest hotel in the town—a hotel at which he had stayed many times before, and was well known. 

He was the kind of man who knew scores of people wherever he went, and in his heart he was hoping that he would meet scores of them now. 

He gave an unconscious sigh of relief when, later, he saw Marie carried up to her room in the lift in the company of an attentive chambermaid, who knew that they were newly married. He went off to the buffet and ordered himself the strongest brandy he could get; while upstairs Marie was looking out her prettiest dinner frock and trembling with excitement at the thought of this new life into which she had so suddenly been plunged. 

She was just ready when Chris came knocking at her door. He had changed into evening clothes, and was very immaculate altogether. 

"Ready?" he asked. His blue eyes wandered over her dainty person. 

"You look like a fairy," he said. 

"Do I?" she smiled happily. "Do you like my frock?" 

She turned and twisted for his admiration. 

Chris said it was topping. They went downstairs together, the best of friends. 

"I met some fellows just now that I know," he said, as they sat down to table. "I'll introduce you later. They're stopping here." 

17 She flushed sensitively. "Did you? Did they know you were married?" she asked. 

17

"I told them." 

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