The idea came into his mind in a flash, but he hesitated before speaking. Wouldn't she be angry if he asked her? He'd only met her twice, she was a lady. Then he decided to risk it. "I wonder," he said slowly. "What are you wondering, Mr. Lothian?" --"If you realise how easy it is to be by the sea. I know it's cheek to ask you--or at least I suppose it is, but let's go!" "How do you mean, Mr. Lothian?" "Let's motor down to Brighton now, at once. Let's dine at the Metropole, and go and sit on the pier afterwards, and then rush home under the stars whenever we feel inclined. Will you!" "How splendid!" she cried, "now! at once? get out of everything?" "Yes, now. I am to be the fairy godmother. You have only to say the magic word, and I will wave my wand. The blue heat mists of evening will be over the ripe Sussex cornfields, and we shall see the poppies drinking in the blood of the sinking sun with their burnt red mouths. And then, when we have dined, the moon will wash the sea with silver, the stars will come out like golden rain and the Queen Moon will be upon her throne! We shall see the long, lit front of Brighton like a horned crescent of topaz against the black velvet of the downs. And while we watch it under the moon, the breeze shall bring us faint echoes of the fairy flutes from Prospero's enchanted Island--'But doth suffer a sea-change into something rich and strange--' And then the sea will take up the burthen 'Ding-dong, ding-dong bell.' Now say the magic word!" "There is magic in the Magician's voice already, and I needs must answer. Yes! and oh, yes, YES a thousand times!" "The commandments of convention mean nothing to you?" "They are the Upper Ten Commandments, not mine." "Then I will go and command my dragon. I know where you live. Be ready in an hour!" "How perfectly, _perfectly_ sweet! And may we, oh, may we have a lobster mayonnaise for dinner?" CHAPTER V "FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A GIRL FRIEND" "Across the hills, and far away Beyond their utmost purple rim, And deep into the dying day The happy princess followed him." --_Tennyson._ Lothian went back to his club in a taxi-cab, telling the man to drive at top speed. On the way he ordered a motor-car to go to Brighton and to call for him within twenty minutes. He was in a state of great exhilaration. He had not had such an adventure as this for years--if ever before. A girl so lovely, so clever, so young--and particularly of his own social rank--he had never met, save for a short space of time and under the usual social conditions which forbade any real intimacy. Even in the days before his marriage, flirtations, or indeed any companionship, with girls who were not of his class had not attracted him. He had never, unlike other men no less brilliant and gifted than himself, much cared for even the innocent side of Bohemian camaraderie with girls.