passing in her mind), but he did not find courage to speak until some
days later. He had asked her to come to his studio to see a picture he
had begun. It was nearly six o'clock; Mildred had been there nearly an
hour; the composition had been exhaustively admired; but something
still unsaid seemed to float in the air, and every moment that
something seemed to grow more imminent.

'You are decided to go to France. When do you leave?'

'Some time next week. The day is not yet fixed.'

'Elsie Laurence and Cissy Clive are going?'

'Yes.... Why don't you come too?'

'I wish I could. I can't. I have no money.'

'But I can lend you what you want. I have more than I require. Let me
lend you a hundred pounds. Do.'

Ralph smiled through his red moustache, and his grey gentle eyes
smiled too, a melancholy little smile that passed quickly.

'It is very kind of you. But it would be impossible for me to borrow
money from you. Even if I had the money, I could hardly go with you.'

'Why not, there's a party. Walter is going, and Hopwood Blunt is
going. I'm the fifth wheel.'

Ralph was about to say something, but he checked himself; he never