"Well," said Lance, "of course I ought to be back, only I was waiting till you went. We'll travel together."
"Captain Brooke's off, I hear."
"Yes; the builders' estimates for that confounded house came in, and he was off like a shot; thinks of nothing else but his house and his motor car; hardly took any notice when I told him we were engaged."
"Oh, well," said Melicent vaguely; "one wouldn't expect him to be interested in that."
"I did. I do. He's my friend."
"Ah! That's why, I expect! You see, he knows me better than you do."
Until Lance's blank stare faced her she did not realise the thing she had said.
"I mean," she hastily subjoined, "that he may have heard all about what a naughty girl I used to be from Mr. Mayne. You know, they are great friends."
"Ah," said Lance tenderly, "but Mayne thinks the world of you."
"Does he?" said Melicent, rather wearily.