"There she was, in the half-darkness of the open doorway, a grey-hatted woman, with a little face thrown up to laugh, laughing at me! And I may have been laughable indeed, with face suited to that unrestrained outburst. I didn't wait for her to speak, I stretched out a hand and drew her by the arm into the hall, and kicked the door to. And she just smiled! with her head a little to one side, she stared up at me, as I still held her arm, and, I suppose, glowered down at her--like a child examining the giant who has caught her. And then, at last, she spoke: "'I wondered what my welcome would be,' she said softly, 'but I never expected this particular one.' "Her voice broke my impulses into pieces, as a silver hammer might break coarse grass. I let go of her arm. "'And of all the welcomes I'd prepared for you, Fay,' I said humbly, 'this particular one never occurred to me. Please--' "But she didn't seem to be listening, the large, serious eyes were still examining me, my face. "'Why, Howard, you're quite changed!' she exclaimed. 'You aren't the same Howard at all, the one who used to come to Rutland Gate!' "'Well, you see, that telephone call last century....' I explained vaguely. "She nodded her head comprehendingly. "'Ah, yes, that one that should simply never have happened!' she murmured. "'I'm frightfully glad to see you again, Fay,' I said, as though irrelevantly, and gravely held out my hand. We shook hands. "'I just thought I'd call and see you before I left England,' she said as gravely. 'And I might add that though I find your hall quite charming, it's very unsatisfactory as a reception-room.' "But she didn't go straight in, she stopped on the threshold of the room to look round at me with a sudden, excited smile. "'You silly Howard, don't you realise that this is a wonderful adventure, because I've never, never been in your rooms before!' And once in the room she looked slowly round, until her eyes fixed on her own portrait on my writing table. She pointed a finger at the discovery. "'Why, there's Fay Richmond!' she exclaimed. "'A girl not unworthy to be put beside you, Madame la Marchesa,' I bowed gallantly. "'Don't!' she almost screamed. 'I've been hearing that sort of stuff from Italians and Austrians for a year and a half--and I simply can't bear it from you, Howard, even in fun.' "'Anyway, it's a wretched sort of compliment,' she added, 'because that girl wouldn't dare hold her head up beside me--would she now?' And she looked me intimidatingly full in the face. "'Well, I suppose you have grown just a little,' I conceded. 'Though I can't possibly judge between your looks until you take off your hat--like a dear?'