He wanted to ask about Desire, but he couldn’t bring himself to frame the question. He listened intently to catch the rustle of her approach. He expected every minute to see her through the darkness, across the threshold. Why didn’t Vashti tell him? Was her kindness a subtle way of apologizing foe Desire’s absence? He had found hidden meanings in everything that had been said: “She feels far more than she’ll ever express--goes out of her way to make people misunderstand.” And then: “We’re going to be great friends, you and I and Desire.” Vashti touched his hand gently. “You’ve something on your mind.” Would she never be frank with him? “On my mind! No, really. It’s only seeing you and finding myself a man. Last time,” he laughed into her eyes, “it was you that I thought I was going to marry.” “And wouldn’t you now? No, you wouldn’t. I can see that.” A gong tinkled faintly. She slipped an arm through his. On the right-hand side of the passage doors led off. He watched for one of them to open. When they reached the small paneled dining-room at the far end, his heart sank: only two places had been set. “Let’s make it our day--the day that I promised you. Now tell me everything. What brought you over?” He glanced sharply across the table. Was she poking sly fun at him? “Brought me over?” “Yes. That’s not such an unreasonable question. You can’t persuade me that you came just to see me, Teddy.” “And yet,” he said, “it was partly that.” “And the rest?” “Work. I’m a writer. I’ve had a little success. Don’t you remember how I always said I was going to be famous? But aren’t you playing with me? D’you really mean that you didn’t expect me?” Vashti met his eyes quietly. “My baby-girl told me something. But how did you discover our address?” While he answered, he watched her narrowly to catch the flicker of any tell-tale expression. “When she was in London this summer, she visited Madame Josephine’s Beauty Parlors. Madame Josephine’s my friend. I’ve told her a good many things about myself; amongst others---- You spoke about dream-persons. I’ve had my dream-person for years--ever since I was at the farmhouse. So there----! She spotted Desire directly.” Vashti raised her glass: “To our dream-persons; and may they not disappoint us when they become realities.” There was a pause. He trembled on the brink of a confession. The maid entered to change the dishes. When she had gone, he leant towards Vashti. His voice was husky. “When shall I see her?” Vashti closed her eyes and caught her breath in a quick laugh. “That depends--depends on how late you stay. Desire’s out at Long Island, taking part in some amateur theatricals. She may ’phone me up presently to say she’s stopping the night If she comes back, she’ll have to get some man to drive her, She won’t arrive till after twelve.”