Sir Lyon suspected that Varick had made an offer to Helen Brabazon, and that she had refused him.  But he was never to know if his suspicion had been correct, for he was one of those rare human being who are never tempted to ask indiscreet or unnecessary questions from even their nearest and dearest.

In answer to Miss Farrow’s apologies and explanations, everyone, of course, expressed himself or herself as very willing to fall in with the suggestion that they should all travel up to town together that day.  It also seemed quite natural to them all, even to Bubbles, that Blanche should stay behind for the one night.

She was not the sort of woman to leave a task half done.  She had engaged the servants, and she would remain to settle up with them.  The average man—­and most of them thought Varick an average man—­is helpless in dealing with so complicated a domestic problem as a number of job servants.

As the hours of the early afternoon went by, Blanche more and more marvelled at Varick’s extraordinary powers of self-command.  Excepting that he was, perhaps, a little more restless than usual, he was at his best as the courteous, kindly host, now parting with regret from a number of well-liked guests.

He even succeeded in putting Helen Brabazon once more at her ease, for, choosing his opportunity, he told her, in a few earnest words which touched her deeply, that he had come to see her point of view, and to acquiesce in her decision.

Blanche heard him making an appointment with Dr. Panton to lunch at the Ritz on one of the days of the following week.  He asked Sir Lyon to join them there; and Blanche saw the look of real chagrin and annoyance which passed over his face when Sir Lyon declined the invitation.

But even what was obviously sincere and real, seemed utterly insincere and unreal to Blanche Farrow, during those tense hours.  Thus, when she overheard Donnington and Bubbles talking over the arrangements for their wedding, their talk seemed to her all make-believe.

At last, however, there came the moment for which she had been longing for what seemed to her an eternity.

Miss Brabazon, Sir Lyon, and Dr. Panton were the first to go off; followed, after a few minutes’ interval, Donnington, Bubbles, and the luggage.

Blanche noticed that Lionel’s parting with Bubbles was particularly suave and cordial.  But the girl was not at her best.  When her host touched her, accidentally, she shrank back, and his face clouded.  And, as the motor drove off, he turned to Blanche and said discontentedly:  “I wish Bubbles liked me better, Blanche!”

She hardly knew what to answer, for it was true that the girl did not like Varick, and had never liked him.  Yet it seemed such a strange thing for him to trouble about that now.  But Lionel, poor Lionel, had always had an almost morbid wish to be liked—­to stand well with people, so she told herself with a strange feeling of pain at her heart.