'Come along,' said Lawford, with a faint gust of laughter; 'let's
see.'

They went quickly downstairs, Sheila with less dignity, perhaps,
than she had been surprised into since she had left a slimmer
girlhood behind. She swept into the gaze of the two gentlemen
standing together on the hearthrug; and so was caught, as it
were, between a rain of conflicting glances, for her husband had
followed instantly, and stood now behind her, stooping a little,
and with something between contempt and defiance confronting an
old fat friend, whom that one brief challenging instant had
congealed into a condition of passive and immovable hostility.

Mr Danton composed his chin in his collar, and deliberately
turned himself towards his companion. His small eyes wandered,
and instantaneously met and rested on those of Mrs Lawford.

'Arthur thought he would prefer to come down and see you
himself.'

'You take such formidable risks, Lawford,' said Mr Bethany in a
dry, difficult voice.

'Am I really to believe,' Danton began huskily. 'I am sure,
Bethany, you will-- My dear Mrs Lawford!' said he, stirring
vaguely, glancing restlessly.

'It was not my wish, Vicar, to come at all,' said a voice from
the doorway. 'To tell you the truth, I am too tired to care a jot
either way. And'--he lifted a long arm--'I must positively refuse