Lily turned to her friend. "I am so sorry for all this. I am the only one to blame for being so weak and foolish." This brought Mr. Sheldrake out in full force; he was almost tender in his expressions of sympathy for Lily, and he even relented so far towards Lizzie as to hold up a warning finger as a caution not to be unjust to her friends for the future. "And now," he said, when Lily was ready to depart, "I propose we go and have a little supper." "No, thank you," said Lizzie, in a decided tone, not at all softened by the evidence of Mr. Sheldrake's magnanimity. Mr. Sheldrake bit his lip. "You speak for all," he said. "I think so. Lily will not go without me, and of course Alfred must see me home." "Why won't you accept Mr. Sheldrake's invitation, Liz?" asked Alfred uneasily. "Daddy is waiting up for me, and we have a long way to go. And besides, Lily is unwell." For one instant, Mr. Sheldrake hesitated; but only for an instant. "Well, it's of no use trying to persuade you. A wilful woman will have her way. How do you propose we shall go home?" he asked of Lizzie in a tone of sarcastic politeness. "Your way is different from ours." Lizzie decided this without hesitation. They would all go in one cab, and drop Lily at the door of her grandfather's house in Soho, and then Alfred should see Lizzie home. Mr. Sheldrake made no demur to her suggestion, and the party drove from the theatre. But he stopped the cab at the corner of the little street in Soho, and said that the driver need not turn, as he could see Lily the few yards she had to go. He jumped out of the cab, and said to Alfred, "By-the-bye, Alf, I want to say a word or two to you. The girls will excuse us for a moment." Alfred and he walked half-a-dozen steps from the cab, and then he turned upon Alfred, and asked what was the meaning of Lizzie's behaviour. "I don't know," replied Alfred; "I never saw her in such a humour before. I hope you don't think I am to blame for what has occurred." "I haven't stopped to think. When a man's made mad as I've been to-night, he doesn't think of much else but the cause. Look here, Alfred, I don't want to pry into your secrets, my boy, and I don't want to spoil your love-making. You know best whether I've been a friend to you or not----" "You have been," interrupted Alfred eagerly; "a true friend!" "Well, then, I'm not going to be made to look small by any sweetheart of yours. I've nothing to say against Lizzie; but she mustn't come any of her tricks with me. Take my advice. Tell her to be more civil to me for the future. If she isn't--" here he paused, and gave Alfred a significant look--"well, if she isn't, I might turn rusty. And that might be awkward for you, Alf." There was no mistaking his meaning, and Alfred's heart sickened at the threat conveyed in the words. It suited Mr. Sheldrake not to notice Alfred's discomposure, and they returned to the cab in silence.