She waited with beating heart for Lucy to pursue the subject, but naturally enough the younger woman did not trouble herself. She talked to her aunt of the preparations for the party that evening, and then, saying that she had much to do, left her. She had no sooner gone than Lady Kelsey's maid came back to say that Lomas was out of town and not expected back till the evening. Distractedly Lady Kelsey sent messages to her nephew and to Mrs. Crowley. She still looked upon Bobbie as Lucy's future husband, and the little American was Lucy's greatest friend. They were both found. Boulger had gone down as usual to the city, but in consideration of Lady Kelsey's urgent request, set out at once to see her. He had changed little during the last four years, and had still a boyish look on his round, honest face. To Mrs. Crowley he seemed always an embodiment of British philistinism; and if she liked him for his devotion to Lucy, she laughed at him for his stolidity. When he arrived, Mrs. Crowley was already with Lady Kelsey. She had known nothing of the terrible letter, and Lady Kelsey, thinking that perhaps it had escaped him too, went up to him with the _Daily Mail_ in her hand. 'Have you seen the paper, Bobbie?' she asked excitedly. 'What on earth are we to do?' He nodded. 'What does Lucy say?' he asked. 'Oh, I've not let her see it. I told a horrid fib and said the newsagent had forgotten to leave it.' 'But she must know,' he answered gravely. 'Not to-day,' protested Lady Kelsey. 'Oh, it's too dreadful that this should happen to-day of all days. Why couldn't they wait till to-morrow? After all Lucy's troubles it seemed as if a little happiness was coming back into her life, and now this dreadful thing happens.' 'What are you going to do?' asked Bobbie. 'What can I do?' said Lady Kelsey desperately. 'I can't put the dance off. I wish I had the courage to write and ask Mr. MacKenzie not to come.' Bobbie made a slight gesture of impatience. It irritated him that his aunt should harp continually on the subject of this wretched dance. But for all that he tried to reassure her. 'I don't think you need be afraid of MacKenzie. He'll never venture to show his face.' 'You don't mean to say you think there's any truth in the letter?' exclaimed Mrs. Crowley. He turned and faced her. 'I've never read anything more convincing in my life.' Mrs. Crowley looked at him, and he returned her glance steadily. Of those three it was only Lady Kelsey who did not know that Lucy was deeply in love with Alec MacKenzie. 'Perhaps you're inclined to be unjust to him,' said Mrs. Crowley. 'We shall see if he has any answer to make,' he answered coldly. 'The evening papers are sure to get something out of him. The city is ringing with the story, and he must say something at once.'