“I lunched, all alone, with a lady,” he said at last, “and she is coming to lunch with you tomorrow.”
Still Mrs. Sên waited.
“You used to know her.”
“Oh—some one turned up from London.”
“No, from Washington.”
Ivy threw him a mock-horrified look. “Sên King-lo, you have been lunching with Emmeline Hamilton! She’ll sue you for breach of promise. What fun for Hongkong! Lady Montsurat’s face will be a picture.”
Sên laughed. Then he drew the carnation from his coat and leaned towards her and tucked it in Ruby’s frock.
Then she knew that it was some one she had cared for, cared for very much. And she cared for so few people—for so very few women.
“Lo,” she whispered, “it isn’t—it isn’t——”
“Yes, it is. Dr. Ray is in Hongkong, and Miss Julia is with her!”