“Nothing,” he replied slowly—­“nothing that you can understand,” and he strode past her up the sweeping stairs.

Margaret was in the biggest chair in the long library, sitting curled up between its generous arms when he entered.  At the moment she was absorbed in following a hero through the pages of a small volume bound in red morocco.  Thayor watched her for a moment, all his love for her in his eyes.

“Oh, daddy!” she cried.  Her arms were about his neck now, the brown eyes looking into his own.  “Oh, daddy!  Oh!  I’m so glad you’ve come.  I’ve had such a dandy ride to-day!” She paused, and taking his two hands into her own looked up at him saucily.  “You know you promised me a new pony.  I really must have one.  Ethel says my Brandy is really out of fashion, and I’ve seen such a beauty with four ducky little white feet.”

“Where, Puss?” He stroked her soft hair as he spoke, his fingers lingering among the tresses.

“Oh, at the new stable.  Ethel and I have been looking him over; she says he’s cheap at seven hundred.  May I have him daddy?  It looks so poverty-stricken to be dependent on one mount.”

Suddenly she stopped.  “Why, daddy!  What’s the matter?  You look half ill,” she said faintly.

Thayor caught his breath and straightened.

“Nothing, Puss,” he answered, regaining for the moment something of his jaunty manner.  “Nothing, dearie.  I must go and dress, or I shall be late for our guests.”

“But my pony, daddy?” pleaded Margaret.

Thayor bent and kissed her fresh cheek.

“There—­I knew you would!” she cried, clapping her hands in sheer delight.

Half an hour later, when the two walked down the sweeping stairs, her soft hand about his neck, the other firmly in his own, they found the mother, now radiant in white lace and jewels, standing before the white chimney piece, one slippered foot resting upon the low brass fender.  Only when the muffled slam of a coupe door awoke her to consciousness did she turn and speak to them, and only then with one of those perfunctory remarks indulged in by some hostesses when their guests are within ear-shot.

In the midst of the comedy, to which neither made reply, the heavy portieres were suddenly drawn aside and Blakeman’s trained voice rang out: 

“Dr. Sperry!”

A tall, wiry man with a dark complexion, alluring black eyes and black moustache curled up at the ends, entered hastily, tucking the third envelope in the pocket of his pique waistcoat.

A peculiar expression flashed subtly from Alice’s dark eyes as she smiled and put forth her hand.  “I’m so glad you could come,” she murmured.  “I was afraid you would be sent for by somebody at the last moment.”

“And I am more than happy, I assure you, dear lady,” he laughed back, as he bent and kissed the tips of her fingers.

“And yet I feel so guilty—­so very guilty, when there is so much sickness about town this wretched weather,” she continued.