Blake made a sudden movement, and then leaned back against the railing.

"I'm afraid that an acquaintance which lasted three or four minutes
could hardly enable you to judge: first impressions are often wrong,
you know. Anyway, I don't complain of the opinion of gentlemen who
knew more about me."

Millicent saw that the subject must be dropped.

"At our first meeting," she said, "I had no opportunity for thanking
you; and you gave me none tonight. It's curious that, while I've met
you only twice, on both occasions you turned up just when you were
needed. Is it a habit of yours?"

Blake laughed.

"That's a flattering thing to hint. The man who's always on hand when
he's wanted is an estimable person."

He studied her with an interest which she noticed but could not resent.
The girl had changed and gained something since their first meeting,
and he thought it was a knowledge of the world. She was, he felt,
neither tainted nor hardened by what she had learned, but her fresh
childish look which suggested ignorance of evil had gone and could not
come back. Indeed, he wondered bow she had preserved it in her
father's house. This was not a matter he could touch upon; but
presently she referred to it.

"I imagine," she said shyly, "that on the evening when you came to my