to repair to the conservatory at once, leaving the young people
alone at the other end of the drawing-room.

Millicent smoothed her gloves with downcast eyes and that demure air
by which the talented fair imply the consciousness of being alone
and out of others' earshot with an interesting member of the
stronger sex.

Guy sat and watched the Suede gloves with a certain sense of placid
enjoyment. Then suddenly he spoke, continuing his remarks where
they had been broken off by the advent of the useful old gentleman.

"You see," he said, "it is only natural that a great many people
should give me the cold shoulder. My story was a little lame.
There is no reason why they should believe in me."

"I believe in you," she answered.

"Thank you."

He looked at her in a strange way, as if he liked her terse creed,
and would fain have heard it a second time. Then suddenly he leant
back with his head against a corner of the piano. The fronds of a
maidenhair fern hanging in delicate profusion almost hid his face.
He was essentially muscular in his thoughts, and did not make the
most of his dramatic effects. The next remark was made by a pair of
long legs ending off with patent-leather boots which were not quite
new. The rest of him was invisible.

"It was a very unpleasant business," he said, in a jerky, self-