was conscious of a curious sense of loss, as though the Peter she had
just began to know had suddenly receded a long way off from her and
would never again be able to draw nearer.

When the Seymours' car at length bore the two girls back to Edenhall
Mansions, Penelope found Nan an unwontedly silent companion. She
responded to Penny's remarks in monosyllables and appeared to have
nothing to say regarding the evening's happenings.

Mingled with the even throb of the engine, she could hear a constant
iteration of the words:

"Married! Peter's married!"

And she was quite unconscious that in her mind he was already thinking
of him as "Peter."




CHAPTER V

"PREUX CHEVALIER"

In due course Mallory paid his call upon the occupants of the flat, and
entertained both girls immensely by the utter lack of
self-consciousness with which he assisted in the preparations for
tea--toasting scones and coaxing the kettle to boil as naturally as
they themselves would have done.