Later, however, he suddenly dropped his pretence, and took the bull by the horns in his most resolute fashion. It had been arranged that Paddy should return home in a hansom straight from Grosvenor Place, and after saying good-by to Doreen she turned and nodded a casual good-by to Lawrence, standing near. “I am coming with you,” he said calmly. “Oh, no, certainly not,” and Paddy looked very resolute. “There is not the least necessity to drag you all that way. Besides, you must see Doreen home.” “Doreen will go home in the brougham. I am coming with you.” For one moment there was a dangerous look in Paddy’s eyes; then Doreen chimed in with: “Don’t be silly, Paddy. Of course Lawrie will take you home. As if he were likely to do otherwise.” Paddy saw there was no help for it, and tripped down the steps and into the hansom without giving him a chance to offer his hand. Lawrence gave the address and stepped in after her. “Do you mind my cigarette?” he asked, to which Paddy replied coldly, “Not in the least,” and drew further back into her corner. “You seem more angry with me than ever to-night,” he began presently. By this time Paddy had just about exhausted her none too large supply of cold hauteur, so, feeling she must vent her anger somehow, she turned upon him suddenly, which secretly pleased Lawrence because it was so much more natural to her. “Of course I am angry with you,” she exclaimed. “I think you have behaved abominably. You have simply laid traps for me, first over the dances and then over this drive. You know perfectly well I would have refused both if Doreen and Miss Carew had not been with us.” “That was strategy. They say all is fair in love and war.” “I don’t care what they say; you are a paltry enemy, because you take a mean advantage.” “And supposing I weren’t an enemy at all?” “But you are; you can’t help being. You only did it purely and simply to annoy me. You knew I did not want to dance with you, so you thought you would make me, just for an amusement for yourself—because it’s a new experience to have an unwilling partner, or something equally silly. It was only on a par with most of your actions.” Lawrence slowly knocked some ash off his cigarette. “I can’t understand Miss Carew helping you,” Paddy ran on. “If she is going to marry you, it is no reason why she should encourage you in annoying other people.” Lawrence raised his eyebrows slightly. “What makes you think Miss Carew is going to marry me?” he asked. “Well, when people are engaged to each other, don’t they usually marry!” There was a faint gleam of amusement in his eyes, but he managed to hide it by studying the end of his cigarette. “And what makes you think Miss Carew and I are engaged to each other?” Paddy shook herself with an irritable movement. “Because you are, of course! I have known it a long time.” “Longer than we have, I suspect,” with provoking calmness.