and get something hot to warm us up. I forgot about lunch. Turn
your coat-collar up--the snow is getting down your neck--and take my
muff. I've got pockets and you haven't."

As we started off a large limousine with violets in the glass vases
of its interior, upholstered in fawn-colored cloth, stopped just
ahead of us, and a woman I did not know got out of it, followed by
one I knew well. Fur coats entirely covered their dresses, and
quickly the chauffeur opened an umbrella to protect their hats. As
we passed I started to speak to Alice Herbert, but, turning her head,
she gave me not even a blink of recognition. At first I did not
understand; then I laughed.

"Who is that?" Mrs. Beck's voice was awed. "Ain't they grand? Do
you know them?"

"No." I put my hands in the pockets of my long coat. "I used to
know one of them, the feeble-minded one. We'd better go over to High
Street and take a car to Benson's. The storm's getting worse. We'll
have to hurry."


The street lamps were being lighted as we reached Scarborough Square,
and at sight of the house, in the doorway of which Mrs. Mundy was
standing, I hurried, impelled by impulse beyond defining. Mrs. Beck
had left me at the corner, and as Mrs. Mundy closed the door behind
me she followed me up the steps.

"I've been that worried about you I couldn't set still long at a
time, and Bettina's been up three times to see that your fire was