"I have a message for her," Fitzgerald said.

"Will you give me your name, sir, please?" the maid asked.

An inner door was suddenly opened. A slim girl, looking taller than
she really was by reason of the rug upon which she stood, looked out
into the hall - a girl with masses of brown hair loosely coiled on
her head, with pale face and strange eyes. She opened her lips as
though to call to her visitor by name, and as suddenly closed them
again. There was not much expression in her face, but there was
enough to show that his visit was not unwelcome.

"You!" she exclaimed. "Come in! Please come in at once!"

Fitzgerald obeyed the invitation of the girl whom he had come to
visit. She had retreated a little into the room, but the door was
no sooner closed than she held out her hands.

"Peter!" she exclaimed. "Peter, you have come to me at last!"

Her lips were a little parted; her eyes were bright with pleasure;
her whole expression was one of absolute delight. Fitzgerald
frowned, as though he found her welcome a little too enthusiastic
for his taste.

"Violet," he said, "please don't look at me as though I were a
prodigal sheep. If you do, I shall be sorry that I came."

Her hands fell to her side, the pleasure died out of her face - only