By degrees they all disperse, some to play billiards, others to write letters, and Philippa is left alone, seated on one of the deep window sills, a book in her hand, but her eyes are fixed on the distant horizon, where the sun has suddenly appeared from behind the clouds, and is shedding a yellow haze over the dripping trees. So absorbed is she that she does not hear Paul come. He goes up to where she is, and says, 'What has happened?' She starts and turning round replies, 'Nothing,' while a tell-tale blush dyes her cheeks. 'Yes, there is,' he persists, 'why did Jimmy leave so suddenly?' 'He told Lady Dadford that he must get back to the Barracks to-night,' she replies. 'Do you think I believe that?' says Paul. 'Why shouldn't you?' 'Now child, I know that something is wrong,' and Paul sits down by her side, 'you told me yesterday you had promised to marry him, why has he gone away to-day; you have not already disagreed?' 'I don't see that you have any right to question me like this,' she answers evasively, 'but I suppose I had better tell you that I am not going to marry Mr Dalrymple,' she says it so firmly that Ponsonby can see that she is not joking. 'Why not?' he asks. 'For many reasons,' is the reply. 'For one he has not much to live on, and--there are circumstances which would make it impossible--' 'Whew!--may I ask if the circumstances prevent him from marrying you or you him.' 'I think there is no occasion for me to answer you,' replies Lippa coldly, 'and I will beg you will mention to no one what I have told you either yesterday or just now.' 'I shall write to Dalrymple to-night,' says he meditatively. 'I hope you will do no such thing,' and Miss Seaton rises hastily. 'I think it would be extremely out of place for _you_ to interfere in any way.' There is a marked emphasis on the 'you' that makes Paul start while he bites fiercely the ends of his moustache, and Philippa walks quickly out of the room, rushes up to her own, and flinging herself on the bed gives way to tears. 'Oh dear, oh dear,' she sobs, 'why does everything go wrong and only a little time ago I was _so_ happy, and now I have hurt Paul's feelings, and ...' 'Paul!' Ponsonby on his way to bed is surprised at hearing himself called. 'Yes,' he replies. 'I want to tell you something,' is the answer. The gas has been turned out and all the other men are just turning in for the night. 'What do you want?' he says, going into the sitting-room, from whence the voice issues, a solitary candle burns on the table, and discloses Philippa. 'You here?' he exclaims surprised. 'Yes,' she says. 'I am afraid I vexed you this afternoon, and I wanted to tell you I was sorry, and ...--' 'Don't think about it again, but really you know you ought not to be here--'