“I’m awfully disappointed, darling,” he said. “I had been looking forward to spending the evening here by the fire with you, but I’m obliged to go with my partners and a party of friends to a dinner they are giving, and I expect to meet that member of Parliament I told you about. If I can break away early, I’ll come back here and say good-night to the sweetest girl in the world. So don’t go home to-night, as we can have a few moments together anyway.”
I was left once more alone. I sat there staring into the fire. Why did Reggie never take me to these dinners? There were always women there. Why was I not introduced to his friends? Why did he leave me more and more alone like this? He was jealous of every man who spoke to me, and yet he left me alone and went to dinners and parties where he did not think I was good enough to go.
Some one was rapping on the door, and I called:
“Come!”
“Why, Marion Ascough, what are you sitting alone in the dark for? Where is the fair one of the golden locks?”
Lu was shaking the snow from her clothes, but she stopped suddenly when she saw my face.
“What are you crying about?”
“I’m not crying. I’m just yawning.”
Lu put her hands on my shoulders.