There was no other taxi or vehicle of any sort in sight, no other lights were visible except those of the station. It was a strange and unknown world upon which she looked in the rainy dusk, and she felt a justifiable annoyance with the ungallant stranger. He jumped into the cab and slammed the door. “Driver!” cried Lexy. “Will you please come back for me?” But before the driver could answer, the door of the cab opened, and the stranger sprang out. “I _beg_ your pardon!” he said, standing hat in hand before Lexy. “I’m most awfully sorry! Give you my word I didn’t notice. I should have noticed, of course. Absent-minded sort of beggar, you know! Please take the cab, won’t you? I don’t in the least mind waiting. Please take it! Allow me!” He tried to take her bag. His manner was not at all haughty. On the contrary, it was a very agreeable manner, and the impulsive Lexy liked him. “Why can’t we both go?” said she. “Oh, no!” he protested. “Please take the cab! Give you my word I don’t mind waiting.” “It’s a dismal place to wait in,” said Lexy. “We can both go, just as well as not.” The driver approved of Lexy’s idea. It saved him trouble. “Where do you want to go, miss?” he asked. “I don’t know,” said Lexy. “I suppose there’s a hotel, isn’t there?” “I say!” exclaimed the stranger. “Just what I’d been asking him, you know! He says there’s no hotel, but a very decent boarding house.” “Mis’ Royce’s,” added the driver. “She takes boarders.” “All right!” said Lexy cheerfully. “Miss Royce’s it is!” The stranger took her bag, and put it into the taxi. He would have assisted Lexy, but she was already inside; so he, too, got in. He closed the door, and off they went. “I _am_ sorry, you know,” he said, “shoving ahead like that; but I didn’t notice—” “Well, please stop being sorry now,” requested Lexy firmly. “Right-o!” said he. “You won’t mind my saying you’ve been wonderfully nice about it?” “No, I don’t mind that a bit,” replied Lexy. “I like to be wonderfully nice.” There was a moment’s silence. “Will you allow me to introduce myself?” said the stranger. “Grey, you know—George Grey—Captain Grey, you know.” “Captain of a ship?” asked Lexy, with interest. She thought she would like to talk about ships. “Oh, no!” said he, rather shocked. “Army—British army—stationed in India.” “I knew you were an Englishman.” “Did you really?” said he, as if surprised. “People do seem to know. My first visit to your country—six months’ leave—so I’ve come here to see my sister—Mrs. Quelton. She’s married to an American doctor.” Lexy thought there was something almost pathetic in his chivalrous anxiety to explain himself. “I’m Alexandra Moran,” she said. “Thank you!” said Captain Grey. “Thank you very much, Miss Moran!” There was no opportunity for further polite conversation, for the taxi had stopped and the driver came around to the door. “Better make a run fer it!” he said. “I’ll take yer bags.”