private sitting-room. Christine was there by the fire when he entered.

"Jimmy," she said eagerly.

Jimmy Challoner went forward with outstretched hand.

"I hope you don't mind my coming again so soon; but I was
bored--thoroughly fed-up," he explained stumblingly.

Christine looked radiant. She had not yet learned to disguise her true
feelings. Jimmy was still holding her hand; she tried gently to free
it.

"Don't--don't take it away," said Jimmy. The double dose of brandy and
his own agitation had excited him; he drew her over to the fire with
him; he hardly knew what he was doing.

Suddenly: "Will you marry me, Christine?" he said.

There was a sharp silence.

Christine's little face had grown as white as death; her soft brown
eyes were almost tragic.

"Marry you!" She echoed his words in a whisper. "Marry you," she said
again. "Oh, Jimmy!" She caught her breath in something like a sob.
"But--but you don't love me," she said in a pitiful whisper.

Jimmy lost his head.