"Mr. Gray! you are never going to desert us already! We want our brightest stars to help illumine our darkness. Mrs. Gray feeling ill? Surely, my dear Elaine, you do not need three gentlemen to take you home!"
The colour flamed into Mrs. Gray's cheeks.
"My husband is taking me home," she said proudly, "Mr. Alston and Mr. Bushman happen to be leaving at the same time."
"It is rather early," admitted Mr. Gray. He had caught sight of a fresh tray of glasses going the round of a circle of his acquaintances, and he decided not to be managed any longer, but to do as he chose.
"Look here, Elaine!" he said in a low tone, "you let Reggie take you home. I won't be a few minutes, but I must speak to Thornton. I've been looking for him all the afternoon, and it's really important."
"I'm sure you are not in a hurry, Howard," said the hostess.
So Reggie and Mrs. Gray found themselves outside the gate alone.
"I'll never go inside that gate again," cried Mrs. Gray, angrily. Then she added piteously, "Oh, Reggie, I thought we had got him safe."
"So did I," said Reggie, ruefully.
"What can I do?" she moaned, "I've seen it coming on little by little, and now he's beginning not to care so much if—if people guess. I'm glad you know, Reggie; it's a comfort to have somebody to speak to. I used to think I should be perfectly happy if I had plenty of money—we girls at home used to be poor till Aunt died and left us her property, just before I was engaged, and now, often, I think I would so willingly have just John's income—and it's only a small income for so responsible a position—or work hard myself, if I could be sure of—of him. But there it is," she added sadly. "Tell me what I can do, Reggie."