He walked through the little court up to the door with her. "And you look as tired as a dog," he remarked--with a successful suppression of 'Mrs. Ledstone.' "What you want is a good sleep, and--and it'll all look brighter in the morning. May I come and see you soon?" "If I'm here, of course you may. But I haven't made up my mind. I may go back to the country, to the Aikenheads, my cousins--where I met Godfrey, you know." He could not resist a question. "I say, is there trouble? You know how I like you both. Has there been a row?" She smiled at him. "Godfrey avoided any danger of that. I don't want to talk about it, but you may as well know. Godfrey has gone away." "Oh, but he'll come back, Mrs.----He'll come back, I mean, you know." "Never. And I don't want him. Don't ask me any more--to-night, anyhow." She gave him her hand with a friendly pressure. "Good-night." "Good Lord! Well, I'm sorry. I say, you won't cut me now, will you?" "I haven't so many friends that I need cut a good one. Now, if you drive off at once, you'll be back in time to get some supper somewhere else." She smiled again, and in a longing for comfort owned to him--and to herself--her childish fears. "And I want to be snug in bed before the spooks come out! I feel rather lonely. So, again, good-night." He had a last vision of her small pale face as she slowly, reluctantly it seemed to him, shut the door. A great rattle of bolts followed. "Well, I'm left outside, anyhow," Bob reflected philosophically, as he walked back to the cab. But his mind was occupied with the picture of the proud forlorn woman, there alone in the empty house, very much alone in the world too, and rather afraid of 'spooks.' All his natural kindliness of heart was aroused in pity and sympathy for her. "I should like to give her a really good time," he thought. In that aspect his impulse was honestly unselfish. But the image of the pale delicate face abode with him also. The two aspects of his impulse mingled; he saw no reason why they should not, if it were really 'all off' between her and Godfrey Ledstone. "I think she likes me well enough--I wonder if she does!" He did not, to do him justice, ask an extravagant degree of devotion in return for any 'good times' which he might find himself able to offer. When it is so easy for two people with good tempers, sound digestions, and plenty of ready cash to enjoy themselves, why spoil it all by asking too much? Surely he and Winnie could enjoy themselves? The idea stuck in his mind. Again, why--to him--should it not? His scrupulous behaviour hitherto had been based on loyalty to Godfrey Ledstone. It appeared that he was released from the obligation by his friend's own act. "He can't say I didn't play the game, while the thing lasted," thought Bob, with justifiable self-satisfaction.