in the snow, moved forward, and he motioned her to enter the brougham.

"Home," he said unsteadily; and stood there very still for a minute or
two, even after the carriage had whirled away into the storm. Then,
looking up at the house, he felt for his keys; but a sudden horror of
being alone arrested him, and he stepped back, calling out to his
cabman, who was already turning his horse's head, "Wait a moment; I
think I'll drive back to Mrs. Gerard's. . . . And take your time."

* * * * *

It was still early--lacking a quarter of an hour to midnight--when he
arrived. Nina had retired, but Austin sat in the library, obstinately
plodding through the last chapters of a brand-new novel.

"This is a wretched excuse for sitting up," he yawned, laying the book
flat on the table, but still open. "I ought never to be trusted alone
with any book." Then he removed his reading glasses, yawned again, and
surveyed Selwyn from head to foot.

"Very pretty," he said. "Well, how are the yellow ones, Phil? Or was it
all débutante and slop-twaddle?"

"Few from the cradle, but bunches were arriving for the dance as I
left."

"Eileen went at half-past eleven."

"I didn't know she was going," said Selwyn, surprised.