"But what will she think of me," she said in trepidation, "and how can I
do such a thing as to steal into a woman's house to a dinner in this way!
Besides, I am not dressed for a formal occasion."

The carriage had stopped before the door now, and the driver was getting
down from his seat.

"Indeed, she will think nothing about it," Dunham assured her, "except to
be glad that she has the right number of guests. Her dinners are
delightful affairs usually, and you have nothing to do but talk about
impersonal matters for a little while and be entertaining. She was most
insistent that you take no thought about the matter of dress. She said it
would be perfectly understood that you were travelling, and that the
invitation was unexpected. You can say that your trunk has not come, or
has gone on ahead. Will you come?"

Then the driver opened the carriage door.

In an instant the girl assumed the self-contained manner she had worn when
she had first spoken to him. She stepped quietly from the carriage, and
only answered in a low voice, "I suppose I'd better, if you wish it."

Dunham paused for a moment to give the driver a direction about carrying
the great pasteboard box to his club. This idea had come as a sudden
inspiration. He had not thought of, the necessity of getting rid of that
box before.

"If it becomes necessary, where shall I say you are going this evening?"
he asked in a low tone, as they turned to go up the steps. She summoned a