“Then perhaps he looks clever, and they believe in contrasts.” “I shall carry you down to the street yet,” threateningly; “you are running grave risks.” “So is the poor man trusting his defence to you.” “It happens to be a lady.” Hal clapped in her hands. “Of course,” she cried; “now we are getting at it. The lady chose you because she thought your wig and gown becoming. How many interviews shall you be having with her?” “I couldn’t say, but we had one this afternoon.” “And was she very charming? Did she call you Baby?” He shrugged his shoulders and turned to Lorraine. “I only waste my substance trying to cope with any one as obtuse as Hal. Is she going to stay to dinner?” “I’m afraid so,” smilingly. He took up his stand on the rug, with his back to the fire and looked down at Hal on her footstool. “It’s a pity about the obtuseness,” he commented, “because she is really rather nice to look at. She has improved so much lately.” “Oh no, I haven’t,” tilting her nose in the air. “I am exactly the same; but you have acquired better taste. Is _he_ going to stay to dinner, Lorraine?” “I’m afraid so. You will have to call a truce, because I want to hear all about the brief; and I shall hear nothing if you persist in wrangling.” “It isn’t my fault,” he said. “I always try to be friends.” “Well, as far as that goes, I always _try_ to like you,” Hal retorted with a laugh. “You would find it much easier if you did not hurl insults at me. Begin another plan altogether.” “Come along to dinner,” put in Lorraine, rising, “and let us hear about this brief.” She led the way to the dining-room, and they had a merry little meal, arranging all about the congratulatory dinner Lorraine proposed to give for Alymer to celebrate the important occasion of his first brief. Afterwards Hal drove to the theatre with her, and stayed a short time in her room while, as Lorraine phrased it, she put on her war-paint. Then she went rather sadly home alone, feeling lost and unhappy about Dudley. It crossed her mind once that Lorraine and Alymer Hermon seemed be on very much more familiar terms than previously, but she paid little heed to the thought, merely supposing that it amused Lorraine to help him in his profession. She sat over the fire and tried to read, but presently the book went down into her lap, and her eyes sought the cheery flicker of the flames. Only there was no answering glow in her usually bright face, rather a sad uneasiness and perplexity, as if circumstances she hardly knew how to cope with were closing in upon her. She felt she had come to a difficult path in life she would have to face alone; for in her friendship with Sir Edwin Crathie neither Dudley nor Lorraine could help her. And, gazing into the fire with serious, thoughtful eyes, it was neither Dudley and Doris, nor Lorraine and Alymer who finally held her thoughts, but sir Edwin Crathie himself. CHAPTER XXII