"Certainly not," he agreed cheerfully. "That is up to you, of
course. I didn't know. We're looking for you to-night."

A sudden repulsion for the evening's engagement rose in Byrne,
but the situation following his ungraciousness was delicate.

"I'll be round," he said. "I have a lecture and I may be late,
but I'll come."

The "Kid" was not stupid. She moved off into the night, chin in
air, angrily flushed.

"You saw!" she choked, when Stewart had overtaken her and slipped
a hand through her arm. "He protects her from me! It is because
of you. Before I knew you--"

"Before you knew me, little one," he said cheerfully, "you were
exactly what you are now."

She paused on the curb and raised her voice.

"So! And what is that?"

"Beautiful as the stars, only--not so remote."

In their curious bi-lingual talk there was little room for
subtlety. The "beautiful" calmed her, but the second part of the
sentence roused her suspicion.