She received Connie's kiss and outpouring of welcome with her usual mocking smile. “If you offer me congratulations, I shall go away, Connie. I have been smirking for the last hour and a half. We were so exhausted by playing the sentimental idiots that we did n't exchange a word on our way here; though I believe Morland likes it. We saw those dreadful Fry-Robertsons bearing down upon us. He actually dragged me up to meet them, as who should say 'Let us go up and get congratulated.'” “I don't see why I should hide my luck under a bushel,” laughed Morland. “Thank you for the compliment,” said Norma. “But if you won at Monte Carlo you would n't pin the banknotes all over your coat and strut about the street. By the way, Connie, we're late. Need we apologise?” “You're not the last. Colonel Pawley is coming.” “Oh dear! that old man radiates boredom. How can you stand him, Connie?” “He's the sweetest thing on earth,” said her hostess. Norma laughed a little contemptuously and came forward to greet Aline and Jimmie. As she did so, her face softened. Jimmie, drawing her aside, offered his best wishes. “The happiness of a man whom I have loved like a brother all my life can't be indifferent to me. On that account you must forgive my speaking warmly. May you be very happy.” “I shall be happy in having such a champion of my husband for a brother-in-law,” said Norma, lightly. “A loyal friend of your own, if you will,” said Jimmie. There was a short pause. Norma ran the tip of her gloved finger down the leaf of a plant on a stand. They were by the window. A vibration in his voice vaguely troubled her. “What do you really mean by 'loyal'?” she said at last, without looking at him. “The word has but one meaning. If I tried to explain further, I should only appear to be floundering in fatuity.” “I believe you are the kind that would stick to a woman through thick and thin, through good repute and ill repute. That's what you mean. Only you don't like to hint that I might at any time become disreputable. I may. All things are possible in this world.” “Not that,” said Jimmie. “Perhaps I was unconsciously pleading for myself. Say you are a queen in your palace. While humbly soliciting a position in your household, I somewhat grandiloquently submit my qualifications.” “What's all this about?” asked Morland, coming up, having overheard the last sentence. “I am pleading for a modest position in Her Majesty's Household,” said Jimmie. “We'll fit him up with cap and bells,” laughed Morland, “and make him chief jester, and give him a bladder to whack us over the head with. He's fond of doing that when we misbehave ourselves. Then he can get us out of our scrapes, like the fellow in Dumas--what's his name--Chicot, was n't it?” Pleased with his jest, he turned to acquaint Connie with Jimmie's new dignity. Both the jest and the laugh that greeted it jarred upon Norma. Jimmie said to her good-humouredly: