‘Well, my dear fellow,’ said Forbes, catching hold of him, ’how is that critical demon of yours?  Is he scotched yet?’

‘He is almost at his last gasp,’ said Kendal, with a ghostly smile, and a reckless impulse to talk which seemed to him his salvation.  ’He was never as vicious a creature as you thought him, and Miss Bretherton has had no difficulty in slaying him.  But that hall was a masterpiece, Forbes!  How have your pictures got on with all this?’

’I haven’t touched a brush since I came back from Switzerland, except to make sketches for this thing.  Oh, it’s been a terrible business!  Mr. Worrall’s hair has turned gray over the expenses of it; however, she and I would have our way, and it’s all right—­the play will run for twelve months, if she chooses, easily.’

Near by were the Worralls, looking a little sulky, as Kendal fancied, in the midst of this great inrush of the London world, which was sweeping their niece from them into a position of superiority and independence they were not at all prepared to see her take up; Nothing, indeed, could be prettier than her manner to them whenever she came across them, but it was evident that she was no longer an automaton to be moved at their will and pleasure, but a woman and an artist, mistress of herself and of her fate.  Kendal fell into conversation on the subject with Mrs. Stuart, who was as communicative and amusing as usual, and who chattered away to him till he suddenly saw Miss Bretherton signalling to him with her arm in that of his sister.

‘Do you know, Mr. Kendal,’ she said as he went up to her, ’you must really take Madame de Chateauvieux away out of this noise and crowd?  It is all very well for her to preach to me.  Take her to your rooms and get her some food.  How I wish I could entertain you here; but with this crowd it is impossible.’

‘Isabel, my dear Isabel,’ cried Madame de Chateauvieux, holding her, ’can’t you slip away too, and leave Mr. Wallace to do the honours?  There will be nothing left of you to-morrow.’

’Yes, directly, directly! only I feel as if sleep were a thing that did not exist for me.  But you must certainly go.  Take her, Mr. Kendal; doesn’t she look a wreck?  I will tell M. de Chateauvieux and send him after you.’

She took Marie’s shawl from Kendal’s arm and put it tenderly round her; then she smiled down into her eyes, said a low ’good-night, best and kindest of friends!’ and the brother and sister hurried away, Kendal dropping the hand which had been cordially stretched out to himself.

‘Do you mind, Eustace?’ said Madame de Chateauvieux, as they walked across the stage.  ’I ought to go, and the party ought to break up.  But it is a shame to carry you off from so many friends.’

’Mind?  Why, I have ordered supper for you in my rooms, and it is just midnight.  I hope these people will have the sense to go soon.  Now then, for a cab.’