Part 45 (1/2)

”I don't know where Dudley's will be,” with a wintry smile. ”It wouldn't be so hard if I thought there was any chance of his being happy. But there isn't. He doesn't in the least know her real character.”

They sat on until seven o'clock, and then Hal rose to go, feeling happier than she had done ever since they last met.

”Well, am I forgiven?” he asked, as she b.u.t.toned her gloves.

”You are, for the present,” with an arch glance; ”but I reserve the right to retract at a moment's notice.”

”And in the meantime you will prove it by coming out to lunch on Sunday? We might go to the Zoo afterwards, and make friends with some of the animals.”

At the first suggestion of lunch Hal had been ready to shy away, but the idea of the Zoo on Sunday afternoon was too much for her, and she said with unmistakable longing:

”I should simply love the Zoo.” Then, after a pause: ”Couldn't I meet you there about three?”

”But why wait until three?” It is not very friendly of you to refuse to lunch with me.”

”I usually go to Lorraine” - somewhat lamely.

”Why not bring Miss Vivian with you?”

”Oh, could I?” eagerly; ”that would be splendid - if she is disengaged.”

A curious little half smile crossed his eyes at her eagerness; but he only said:

”Certainly, and if she cares to bring a friend, to make the party an even number, I shall be only too pleased. Shall we say the Piccadilly, for a change, at 1.30?”

Hal thanked him, and as she sped homewards in a taxi he had procured for her, she viewed the prospect with real delight.

Dudley, of course, would be spending his Sunday with Doris, and she and Lorraine, supposing the latter were disengaged, might have found the afternoon a little long alone. The evening was the occasion of the dinner-party to commemorate Alymer Hermon's first brief, so it was very likely Lorraine would be free at midday.

She thought it was nice of Sir Edwin to invite her friend as well, and as she reviewed the afternoon meeting, her heart was foolishly glad over his apology, and insistent determination to be friends. It was evident, she believed, that if she adhered to her resolute resistance of familiarity, she would be able to keep him at a discreet distance, and they might enjoy a really delightful friends.h.i.+p.

Her eyes were smiling and glad at the little upper window that night.

She had hated cutting off their friends.h.i.+p. The days had been dull and dragging without even a telephone chat with him; and though she still told herself it was chiefly because of the shock of Dudley's engagement, she knew it was a little for his sake also.

And she thought further, if they might now include Lorraine in some of their meetings, it would be an added safeguard, and very entertaining as well. She meant to telephone to her the first thing in the morning to fix up their Sunday engagement.

Inquiries on the telephone, however, the next morning, elicited the information that Lorraine had already arranged to go out to lunch; and thus Hal found herself unexpectedly thrown on her own resources. A little note from Ethel asking her to accompany Dudley if she had nothing better to do, placed her in a further awkward position.

She did not want to go to Holloway, to swell the number of mouths to be fed out of Ethel's slender housekeeping purse, and add one more to be cooked for, etc., on Ethel's one free day. Finally, because it was the simplest, as well as the pleasantest thing to do, she telephoned Sir Edwin, and told him Lorraine could not accompany her on Sunday, but she would be there herself, and afterwards go to the Zoo.

And at the other end of the wire Sir Edwin smiled, an enigmatical smile that was unmistakably pleased, as he put back the receiver, and glanced towards the cosy fire in his grate.

”I wonder,” he said to himself meditatively, ”if one could make her care, whether she could care enough to lose her head.”

CHAPTER XXIV

It was rather a curious circ.u.mstance, that on the occasion of Lorraine's dinner-party, Alymer Hermon was the first to notice an indefinable change in Hal. To the others she was only gayer than usual, more sparkling, better-looking.