“I don’t like you to have to wait so long for your dinner. You always get faint. Perhaps Dr. Renshaw would see me another evening... I—” “Oh, nonsense, chum”—in the same cheery voice—“I’ll have a tin of sardines, and eat one every ten minutes until you come.” Ethel let the matter drop, seeing it would please him best, and Doris retired to their room with a slightly sulky air. “There always seems to be something to damp it if I am to have a treat,” was her complaint. “I don’t think you will feel damped after you start,” Ethel replied quietly, and they went to bed in silence. CHAPTER IX When Dudley got back he found Hal waiting up for him, with an expression of shining eagerness on her face. “Oh, Dudley, such fun!” she began, “Lorraine has got the royal box for me for Thursday evening. We must have a little dinner-party. Who shall we take? It holds four comfortably, and two men could stand at the back.” “Thursday evening!” looking a little taken aback. “I am engaged.” “Engaged! Well, you must put it off. Why didn’t you tell me? I thought you said you had any night free except Friday.” “I only made the engagement this evening.” “Are you going to see Basil again? He won’t mind being put off.” “No. It isn’t Basil.” “What then?” Dudley turned away, threw his gloves carelessly down on a sidetable, and picked up some letters. “I asked Doris to go to the White City with me.” “You—you asked Doris to go to the White City?...” she repeated incredulously. “What in the world for?” “To see it, of course. What else should I ask her for?” “Oh, Heaven only knows! Why ask her at all? I should certainly upset her into the canal from sheer irritation if she came with me.” “Such nonsense.” He knit his forehead into a decided frown. “You are so unfair to Doris. You used to complain that I was unfair to Lorraine. I was never as unfair as you are now. You don’t really know Doris at all; and she has never done anything to hurt you.” “It doesn’t follow that she wouldn’t if she had the chance. You’re so awfully dense about women, Dudley. Why didn’t you invite Ethel instead? She is worth a hundred Dorises. Then we could have taken her to the theatre.” His voice and manner grew very cold. “I don’t agree with you, but it is not a subject I care to discuss. Is there any reason why Doris should not be invited to the theatre?” “None whatever, except that I don’t propose to ask her.” They faced each other a moment almost angrily, except that whereas Dudley was distinctly vexed, Hal was a little scornful, and half-laughing. “Then I cannot come either, and”—he paused a moment, to add with decision—“I object to your going unchaperoned.” “Do you mean that you wish me to give up the box?” “You know what I mean.” Hal was thoughtful a moment, and then remarked with sudden glee: