'Yes, yes, to take my revenge, you know. Oh, you remember, and you can't shirk it now.' She began to laugh at the half-humorous gravity of Airey's face, as she insisted on his responsibility. This talk with him, the sort of relations that she was establishing with him, promised to give a new zest to her life, a pleasant diversion for her thoughts. He would make a splendid onlooker, and she would select all the pleasant things for him to see. Of course there was nothing really unpleasant, but there were a few things that it would not interest him to hear. There were things that even Mrs. Bonfill did not hear, although she would have been able to understand them much better than he. Trix found her host again looking at her with an amused and admiring scrutiny. She was well prepared for it; the most select of parties had elicited no greater care in the choice of her dress than this visit to Danes Inn. Was not the contrast to be made as wonderful and striking as possible? 'Shall I do you credit?' she asked in gay mockery. 'You're really rather marvellous,' laughed Airey. 'And I suppose you'll come out all right.' A hint of doubt crept into his voice. Trix glanced at him quickly. 'If I don't, you'll have to look after me,' she warned him. He was grave now, not solemn, but, as it seemed, meditative. 'What if I think only of myself too?' he asked. Trix laughed at the idea. 'There'd be no sort of excuse for you,' she reminded him. 'I suppose not,' he admitted, rather ruefully. 'But I'm going to come out most splendidly all right, so we won't worry about that.' As she spoke she had been putting on her gloves, and now she rose from her chair. 'I must go; got an early dinner and a theatre.' She looked round the room, and then back to Airey; her lips parted in an appealing confidential smile that drew an answer from him, and made him feel what her power was. 'Do you know, I don't want--I positively don't want--to go, Mr. Newton.' 'The attractions are so numerous, so unrivalled?' 'It's so quiet, so peaceful, so out of it all.' 'That a recommendation to you?' He raised his brows. 'Well, it's all a bit of a rush and a fight, and--and so on. I love it all, but just now and then'--she came to him and laid her hand lightly on his arm--'just now and then may I come again?' she implored. 'I shall like to think that I've got it to come to.' 'It's always here, Mrs. Trevalla, and, except for me, generally empty.' 'Generally?' Her mocking tone hid a real curiosity; but Airey's manner was matter-of-fact. 'Oh, Peggy Ryle comes, and one or two of her friends, now and then. But I could send them away. Any time's the same to them.' 'Miss Ryle comes? She's beautiful, I think; don't you?' 'Now am I a judge? Well, yes, I think Peggy's attractive.' 'Oh, you're all hypocrites! Well, you must think me attractive too, or I won't come.'