"He had not seen you since he was at school, and yet he felt he knew you
well enough to walk in on you!"

"Yes, he just walked in, and then I would not let him go."

"Men are so queer!" she exclaimed with a little laugh that had a spice
of admiration in it, under which Geoffrey writhed. He was sailing under
such false colours as her brother's benefactor.

"We ought to be starting," he said.

She looked round the room. "I hate to leave all these nice things," she
said. "Billy is so fond of them. There is some wine that some one gave
him that he says is really priceless."

"Leave it," said Geoffrey shortly.

"One would think you were a teetotaller from that tone. I wonder if I
could not take one bottle as a surprise to Billy. He would like to
contribute something to your hospitality, I am sure. Besides, if I leave
it, it may be stolen."

"Yes, it may be stolen." He looked down into her face.

"Then--"

"I ask you as a favour to leave it behind."

Nothing could have been more charming than her manner of yielding, sweet