Lawford hesitated an immeasurable moment. In one swift glance he
perceived the lamplit mystery of evening, beckoning, calling,
pleading--Fly, fly! Home's here for you. Begin again, begin
again. And there before him in quiet and hostile decorum stood
maid and mistress. He took off his hat and stepped quickly in.

'So late, so very late, I fear,' he began glibly. 'A sudden call,
a perfectly impossible distance. Shall we disturb him, do you
think?'

'Wouldn't it,' began Sheila softly, 'be rather a pity perhaps? Dr
Simon seemed to think.... But, of course, you must decide
that.'

Ada turned quiet small eyes.

'No, no, by no means,' he almost mumbled.

And a hard, slow smile passed over Sheila's face. 'Excuse me one
moment,' she said; 'I will see if he is awake.' She swept swiftly
forward, superb and triumphant, beneath the gaze of those dark,
restless eyes. But so still was home and street that quite
distinctly a clear and youthful laughter was heard, and light
footsteps approaching. Sheila paused. Ada, in the act of closing
the door, peered out. 'Miss Alice, ma'am,' she said.

And in this infinitesimal advantage of time Dr Ferguson had
seized his vanishing opportunity, and was already swiftly
mounting the stairs. Mrs Lawford stood with veil half raised and
coldly smiling lips and, as if it were by pre-arrangement, her