When first they met that evening, he had had no plan at all; he was merely filled with an aching desire to behold her face. Now it dawned upon him that, if she were the calculating, self-seeking person whom he sometimes supposed her, she could not suffer from being in his society, and there was no reason why he should not see a good deal of her. "Love at first sight--most interesting!" was what he said aloud; and a long interval elapsed before he spoke at all. She assented to his definition, with the least little ghost of a smile. "How long are you likely to be in town?" he asked abruptly. "I think I shall stay until they can take Pansy to the sea," she replied. "Dr. Danby says that in about ten days she can be moved on a water-bed in a motor-car to Cliftonville. Osbert says she is to have just what the doctor orders, so I shall arrange for her to go that way. It is, as you may suppose, very difficult for me to be so long away from Omberleigh, but my husband is very good and patient. He knows it was a matter of life and death." "Well, as long as you are in town, I shall make it my business to see that you have some fresh air every day," he announced. "May I bring a motor to-morrow round to the Home, and take you and Mrs. Mynors to dine somewhere a little way out of town? It is still light until past eight o'clock, and in an hour or so we could get to Essendon, or Chenies, or one of those pretty little places--no need to stew in London these deadly August days." Her eye lit up, and she began to speak impatiently, then checked herself. "Now, say just what you were going to say." She laughed. "I was going to be barefaced enough to ask you to take Tony as well. He has been in camp, with his O.T.C., but he comes to London to-morrow, and I want him to have a good time." "By all means. Couldn't you get away half an hour sooner?" She shook her head. "I must stay until they turn me out; Pansy would fret if I did not. But I will be as punctual as I can, and tell mother and Tony to come round to Queen Anne Street." "On no account! I shall fetch them from Margaret Street on my way to you." "You are very kind and thoughtful," she responded joyfully. "I do feel that a motor run would do me good after all those hours in the sick room." * * * * *