He nodded.

"It's something at the Court of St. James. I don't know exactly; but it's
very imposing, and important, and epoch-making. Jack spent all day
yesterday with the President and Secretary of State."

"Well, well, well! That certainly is immense!" She was standing beside
the table. Slowly her fingers plucked a carnation from the cluster before
her. Violet eyes were upon it.

"Is it?" she asked, slowly.

"Isn't it?" he queried, surprised.

She paused a moment; and then, swiftly:

"Oh, I don't know. I--"

Blake waited. But she did not go on. At length he spoke:

"How long will he be gone?"

"Maybe two months," she returned.... "It will be the first time that
we've been apart for more than a day or two since we were married.... I--
I suppose that's silly, isn't it?

"If that's silly, it's too bad anyone ever gets sensible," was his
assuring reply.