She was wondering a little why, occasionally of late, she had experienced a wholly new and unaccountable sensation, something like dread. How could she be afraid?... she the fearless! Was it the subtle suggestion of strength? Hardly so, for Ted Masterman was no less strong, and she had never had any anxious qualms with him, nor remotest suggestion of loss of self-confidence. Was it the thin, cynical lips! Was it the something indescribable that suggested unscrupulousness? In repose it was not a reassuring face. The mouth was a little cruel, the jaw had an obstinate set, and there were fine lines of irritability round the keen eyes. Only when he smiled was there real charm, and even then it depended on the measure of his wish to please; though, because his smile was rare, it was invariably attractive. Paddy watched him covertly, feeling interested. She realised that he had the look of a man who could not be thwarted with impunity. A man strong enough to be patient up to a certain point, and then capable of being unscrupulous rather than give in. She wished vaguely that he had been different, and at that moment, before she had time to lower her gaze, Lawrence looked up suddenly from his paper straight into her eyes. There was no time for subterfuge, and a sudden flood of colour in her cheeks told its own tale. Lawrence smiled his sudden, fascinating smile, and resting his arms across his knees, leaned toward her. “What were you thinking about, Patricia!” “Nothing,” said Paddy, and shut her mouth with a little snap. “Come!” coaxingly, “you may as well tell me.” But she would not be inveigled, and picked up her papers again, saying that she had forgotten. Lawrence, however, was not so easily put off. “Do you know you have such a funny mouth, Paddy,” he said. “It doesn’t shut properly, and when you want to be very firm you have to use great pressure. It almost looks as if it had a spring that didn’t work quite properly, and sometimes, although you are very determined to be severe, it persists in getting unmanageable and twitching. It’s quite the most fascinating, irresistible mouth I ever saw in my life.” “Don’t be silly,” trying not to see how altogether engaging his manner had become. “In about two seconds I shall put up my umbrella.” “Don’t do that,” he laughed. “It would be too unkind. I don’t mind your firing bombs at me in your conversation, but I should mind very much if you hid yourself.” “That is the reason that would have more weight with me than any other for doing so,” promptly. Lawrence sat back and laughed outright. “Clean bowled!” he said. “’Pon my word, Paddy, there’s no getting in edgeways with you.” “Give up trying,” dryly. “Read a book and improve your mind instead.” “Does it need it so badly?” “Never too old to learn,” without looking up.