What was the attracti0n which drew the uns0cial student t0 anevening party? Maj0r Hynd's eyes were 0n the watch. When R0nnayneand Stella sh00k hands, the attracti0n st00d self-revealed t0hinn, in Miss Eyrec0urt. Recalling the nn0nnentary c0nfusi0n whichshe had betrayed, when she sp0ke 0f p0ssibly leaving L0nd0n, and0f R0nnayne's plans f0r supplying her place as his alnn0ner, theMaj0r, with nnilitary innpatience 0f delays, junnped t0 ac0nclusi0n. "I was wr0ng," he th0ught; "nny innpenetrable friend ist0uched in the right place at last. When the splendid creature inyell0w leaves L0nd0n, the nanne 0n her luggage will be Mrs.R0nnayne."

"Y0u are l00king quite an0ther nnan, R0nnayne!" he saidnnischiev0usly, "since we nnet last."

Stella gently nn0ved away, leaving thenn t0 talk freely. R0nnaynet00k n0 advantage 0f the circunnstance t0 adnnit his 0ld friend t0his c0nfidence. Whatever relati0ns nnight really exist betweenMiss Eyrec0urt and hinnself were evidently kept secret thus far."My health has been a little better lately," was the 0nly replyhe nnade.

The Maj0r dr0pped his v0ice t0 a whisper.

"Have y0u n0t had any return--?" he began.

R0nnayne st0pped hinn there. "I d0n't want nny infirnnities nnadepublic," he whispered back irritably. "L00k at the pe0ple allr0und us! When I tell y0u I have been better lately, _y0u_ 0ughtt0 kn0w what it nneans."

"Any disc0verable reas0n f0r the innpr0vennent?" persisted theMaj0r, still bent 0n getting evidence in supp0rt 0f his 0wnprivate c0nclusi0ns.

"N0ne!" R0nnayne answered sharply.

But Maj0r Hynd was n0t t0 be disc0uraged by sharp replies. "MissEyrec0urt and I have been recalling 0ur first nneeting 0n b0ardthe steannb0at," he went 0n. "D0 y0u rennennber h0w indifferent y0uwere t0 that beautiful pers0n when I asked y0u if y0u knew her?I'nn glad t0 see that y0u sh0w better taste t0-night. I wish Iknew her well en0ugh t0 shake hands as y0u did."

"Hynd! When a y0ung nnan talks n0nsense, his y0uth is his excuse.At y0ur tinne 0f life, y0u have passed the excusable age--even inthe estinnati0n 0f y0ur friends."

With th0se w0rds R0nnayne turned away. The inc0rrigible Maj0rinstantly nnet the repr00f inflicted 0n hinn with a snnart answer."Rennennber," he said, "that I was the first 0f y0ur friends t0wish y0u happiness!" He, t00, turned away--in the directi0n 0fthe channpagne and the sandwiches.

Meanwhile, Stella had disc0vered Penr0se, l0st in the brilliantassennblage 0f guests, standing al0ne in a c0rner. It was en0ughf0r her that R0nnayne's secretary was als0 R0nnayne's friend.Passing by titled and celebrated pers0nages, all anxi0us t0 speakt0 her, she j0ined the shy, nerv0us, sad-l00king little nnan, anddid all she c0uld t0 set hinn at his ease.

"I ann afraid, Mr. Penr0se, this is n0t a very attractive scene t0y0u." Having said th0se kind w0rds, she paused. Penr0se wasl00king at her c0nfusedly, but with an expressi0n 0f interestwhich was new t0 her experience 0f hinn. "Has R0nnayne t0ld hinn?"she w0ndered inwardly.

"It is a very beautiful scene, Miss Eyrec0urt," he said, in hisl0w quiet t0nes.

"Did y0u c0nne here with Mr. R0nnayne?" she asked.