Her luggage lay on the floor of the studio, still unpacked. She had not given another thought to it; she did now. "Shall I go back to Shaylor's Patch to-night?" It was a very tempting idea. She got up, almost determined; she would find sympathy there; even the tears might come. She was on the point of making for her bedroom, to put on her hat and jacket again, when another ring came at the bell. A moment later she heard a cheery voice asking, "Mrs. Ledstone at home?" "But I'm not Mrs. Ledstone any more. Nor Mrs. Maxon! I don't see that I'm anybody." The thought had just time to flash through her mind before Bob Purnett was ushered in by Mrs. O'Leary. "Mr. Purnett, mum. Ye'll find the whisky in the usual place, sor, and the soda." It was known that Bob did not affect afternoon tea. "I thought you'd be back, Mrs. Ledstone. Where's Godfrey? I've a free night, and I want you and him to come and dine and go to a Hall. Don't say no, now! I'm so lonely! Don't mind this cigar, do you, Mrs. Ledstone?" There seemed a lot of 'Mrs. Ledstone' about it; but she knew that was Bob's good manners. Besides, it was a minor point. How much candour was at the moment requisite? Even that was not the main point. The main point was--'Here's a friendly human being; in what way am I required by the situation to treat him?' It was a point admitting of difficult consideration in theory; in practice it needed none whatever. Winnie clutched at the plank in her sea of desolation. "Godfrey's staying over the night with his people; he's got a chill. I didn't know it, so I came back all the same from the Aikenheads'."--How glib!--"And I'm rather lonely too, Mr. Purnett." He sat down near her by the stove. "Well--er--old Godfrey wouldn't object, would he?" "You mean--that I should come alone? With you?" "Hang it, if he will get chills and stay at Woburn Square! This doesn't strike one as very festive!" He looked round the studio and gave a burlesque shudder. "It isn't!" said Winnie. "Shall I surprise you, Mr. Purnett, if I tell you that I have never in my life dined out or gone to the theatre alone with any man except Mr. Maxon and Godfrey?" She puzzled Bob to distraction, or, rather, would have, if he had not given up the problem long ago. "I believe it if you say so, Mrs. Ledstone," he rejoined submissively. "But Godfrey and I are such good pals. Why shouldn't you?" "I'm going to," said Winnie. He rose with cheerful alacrity. "All right. I'll meet you at the Café Royal--eight sharp. Jolly glad I looked in! I say, what price poor old Godfrey--with a chill at Woburn Square, while we're having an evening out?" He chuckled merrily. "It serves Godfrey quite right," she said, with her faintly flickering smile. Mrs. O'Leary was delighted to be summoned to the task of lacing up one of Winnie's two evening frocks--the better of the two, it may be remarked in passing.