to him. He made up his mind that if Christine would have him, he would
marry her at once. There was nothing to wait for--and he wanted to let
Cynthia see that he was not going to wear the willow for her.

He turned away from the window and the dazzling rows of diamond rings
and walked on. He remembered that he had not answered his brother's
letter; on the spur of the moment he turned into the nearest post
office and sent a cable:


Letter received. Am engaged to Christine Wyatt, of Upton House. You
remember her.--JAMES.


He never signed himself "Jimmy" when he was writing to the Great
Horatio. The cable, together with his brother's address, cost him
fifteen shillings; he grudged the expense, but he supposed it had to be
sent.

He wandered on again up the street.

He had some lunch by himself, and went back to the Wyatts' hotel.
Christine came running down the stairs to meet him; her eyes were
dancing, her face flushed.

"Oh, Jimmy!" she said. She looked as if she expected him to kiss her,
he thought; after a moment he lightly touched her cheek with his lips.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come to lunch," he said stiltedly. "I--er--I had
an engagement. If you care to come out----"