“I’m dining out myself, so I must fly.” He turned to Lorraine, with a gay smile. “I say, may I come and dine with you some other time?” “Come to the Carlton on Sunday, will you?” Lorraine hardly knew why she made the sudden decision; she only knew perfectly well she would have to break another engagement to keep it, and that she was foolishly glad when he accepted. “It’s all right; you needn’t ask me,” volunteered Hal, as her friend glanced at her. “I’m going motoring with Dick, and I shall insist upon staying out until ten or eleven. I always try and fill my Sundays full of fresh air. “Where are you going tonight, Baby?” she added, with a charmingly impudent smile. “The Albert Hall, with Lady Selon”; and a twinkle shone in his eyes. “Goodness gracious! What in the world are you going to the Albert Hall for? and who is Lady Selon?” “She is Soccer Selon’s sister-in-law, and she asked me to take her to a concert. Is there anything else you would like to know?” “Her age?” archly. “Somewhere about thirty-five, I should imagine.” “Oh! your grandmother, or thereabouts. Well, skip along. Tell Dick to call for me early on Sunday.” When he had said good-bye to Lorraine and departed, Hal held up her hand, hanging in a limp fashion. “I wish you’d teach him to shake hands, Lorry. It feels like shaking a blind cord and tassel. Are you going to mother him? What an odd idea for you to bother with a boy! You surely don’t mean to tell me he interests you?” “I like to look at him. He’s such a splendid young animal. I feel—oh, I don’t know what I feel.” “Lots of London policemen are splendid young animals, but you don’t want tête-à-tête teas with them if they are.” “You absurd child! Is there any reason why I shouldn’t have tea with Mr. Hermon, if it amuses me?” “None specially; but if it’s just a splendid young animal to look at, you want, I daresay it would be safer to import a polar bear from the Zoo.” Lorraine felt a spot of colour burn in her cheeks, but she only laughed the subject aside, and alluded to it no more before they parted at the theatre door. Only at a late supper-party that night she was quieter than was her wont; and, contrary to her habit, one of the first to leave. A well-known rising politician, who had been paying her much attention of late, prepared, as usual, to escort her home. She wished he would have stayed behind, but had no sufficient reason for refusing his company. He taxed her with silence as they spun westwards, and she pleaded a headache, wondering a little why all he said, and looked, and did, somehow seemed banal and irritating tonight.