He kissed her cheek, laughing. "Au revoir! I shan't be disgusted with you anyhow. Good-night."
He walked to the door, and was just going to open it when she spoke again. "Mr. Lisle!"
"Yes." He turned round. She was standing by the table now; her face was very bright; she seemed to struggle against another spasm of laughter. "In the stress of business you've forgotten your telegram from—Bernadette!" She waved the missive in her hand, holding her mutinous lips closely together.
Arthur stood for a moment, looking at the lady and the missive. Then he broke into a hearty roar; she let herself go too; their laughter rang through the little room. The door was flung open, and Joe Halliday appeared on the threshold in a state of some indignation.
"Pretty good to keep me waiting out in the cold while you—what have you been up to, Ayesha?"
"Nothing that concerns you, Joe. I've been giving Mr. Lisle some medicine."
"I should have thought we'd all had enough of that to-night!"
"It's a different sort—and different from any I shall give you. But I think it did him good, from the symptoms. Oh, here's your wire, Mr. Lisle!"
She seemed to sparkle with mischief as she gave it to him. "Now mind you don't give Joe any medicine!" he said.
"The bottle's finished, for to-night at all events." With this gay promise and a gay nod she let him go.