"Row, eh?" he inquired, softly. She could barely hold back her hatred of the man. He had worked powerfully upon her nerves of late, and she was half hysterical. "Why do you take pleasure in annoying me?" she cried. "What ails you these last few weeks? I can't stand it--I won't--" "Oh! Pardon! One quarrel an evening is enough. I should have known better." She turned upon him at this, but once more checked the words that clamored for utterance. Her look, however, was a warning. She bit her lip and said nothing. "Too bad you and he don't hit it off better; he likes me." There was no answer. "He's giving me a party after the dance, sort of a gratitude affair. A delicate way to acknowledge a debt, eh?" She saw that his hand shook as he lit a fresh cigarettes, and the strangeness of his tone made her wonder. "You know very well it is Runnels' doing," she said. "Oh, there are six of them in it altogether, but Anthony originated the little surprise. It's intended for you, of course." "I don't see it. Are you going?" "I accepted." "What do you mean by that?" "Bah! They won't give it," he said, harshly. "And why not? I think it is rather nice of those chaps. Of course, Runnels would like to ingratiate himself with you--" "Funny spectacle, eh? Me the guest of--Anthony!" There was a trace of anxiety in her voice as she answered, and, though she spoke carelessly, she did not meet his eyes. "I--I'd rather you'd make an excuse. I'll have to go home alone, you know." He raised his brows mockingly. "My DEAR! I'm to be the honored guest." "Suit yourself, of course." A marine officer approached, mopping his face, and engaged her in conversation, whereupon Cortlandt rose languidly and strolled away through the crowd that came eddying forth from the ballroom. Meanwhile, Kirk had found Runnels, who was looking for him, eager to express his congratulations and to discuss their exploit in detail. "I've just taken the wife home," he explained. "I never saw anybody so excited. If she'd stayed here she'd have given the whole thing away, sure. Why, she wasn't half so much affected by her own marriage." "I--I haven't pulled myself together yet. Funny thing--I've just been watching my wife dancing with the man she is engaged to. Gee! It's great to be married." "She's the dearest thing I ever saw; and wasn't she game? Alice will cry for weeks over this. Why, it's the sob-fest of her lifetime. She's bursting with grief and rapture. I hope your wife can keep a secret better than mine, otherwise there will be a tremendous commotion before to-morrow's sun sets. I suppose now I'll have to hang around home with my finger on my lip, saying 'Hist!' until the news comes out. Whew! I am thirsty."