appearance. She adroitly turned the conversation back to Hal, and
spoke of her until they reached the block of flats.

"Is this where you live? What a ripping situation!" he exclaimed. "I
would sooner be near the river than near Knightsbridge, even if it is
not so classy."

He followed her into the lift, and then into her charming home, full of
enthusiasm, and still without exhibiting a shade of self-consciousness.

Lorraine found her interest growing momentarily, as he took up his
stand on her hearth and gazed frankly around, with undisguised pleasure.

"What a jolly nice room. It's one of the prettiest I've seen. You
have the same color-scheme as the Duchess of Medstone in het boudoir,
but I like your furniture better."

Lorraine glanced up a little surprised.

"Do you know the Duchess of Medstone?"

"Well, yes" - a trifle bashfully. "You see, those sort of people ask
me to their houses because of my cricket. Private cricket weeks are
rather fashionable, and I get invitations as the late Oxford captain."

"And do you go to people you don't know?"

"Yes, rather, if I can raise the funds. The nuisance is the tipping.
There's always such a rotten lot of servants; and I'm too much afraid
of them to give anything but gold."