Lady Astrupp took his hand with a confiding gesture and
smiled.

"Never displeasure," she said, lingeringly, and again she
smiled. The smile might have struck a close observer as
faintly, artificial. But what man in Chilcote's frame of mind
has time to be observant where women are concerned? The
manner of the smile was very sweet and almost caressing
--and that sufficed.

"What have you been doing?" she asked, after a moment. "I
thought I was quite forgotten." She moved across to the
couch, picked up the kitten, and kissed it. "Isn't this
sweet?" she added.

She looked very graceful as she turned, holding the little
animal up. She was a woman of twenty-seven, but she looked a
girl. The outline of her face was pure, the pale gold of her
hair almost ethereal, and her tall, slight figure still
suggested the suppleness, the possibility of future
development, that belongs to youth. She wore a lace-colored
gown that harmonized with the room and with the delicacy of
her skin.

"Now sit down and rest--or walk about the room. I sha'n't
mind which." She nestled into the couch and picked up the
crystal ball.

"What is the toy for?" Chilcote looked at her from the
mantel-piece, against which he was resting. He had never defined