Katherine exulted inwardly. Outwardly she was very cool and very
baffling. "Please don't call me Kitty. I hate it."

"It's a dear little name. That's what I'm going to call you when we
are--well, you know."

"I _don't_ know. What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come now, Miss Rodney. Don't be so icy. What's up? Never
mind--don't tell me. I know. You're jealous of Connie." It was a bold
stroke and it had an immediate effect.

"Jealous!" she scoffed, but her cheeks went red. "Not I, Freddie." She
considered for a second and then went on: "She's not in love with you.
You must be blind. She's crazy about Mr. Medcroft."

"By Jove," exclaimed Freddie, stopping short, his eyes bulging. He
looked at her for a minute in silence, realisation sifting into his
face. "You're right! She _is_ in love with him. I see it now. Well, what
do you think of that! Her brother-in-law!"

"And he is in love with her too. Now you may go back to her and see if
you can't win her away from him. I shan't interfere, my dear Freddie.
Don't have me on your conscience. Good-by."

She left him standing there in the street. With well-practised tact he
darted into a tobacconist's shop.

"Another shake-down," he reflected ruefully. "They're all passing me up