The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Muchross with several lords, and he was with difficulty dissuaded from an attempt to swarm up the columns of the wonderful bed.  The room was full of young girls and barristers gathered from the various courts.  Some had stopped before the great Christ.  A girl had touched the suspended silver lamp and spoken of “dim religious light”; but by no word or look did Lily admit that she had been there before, and Mike felt it would be useless to remind her that she had.  She was the same as she was every Wednesday in her mother’s drawing-room.  And the party had been given solely with a view of withdrawing her from its influence.  What was he to say to this girl?  Was he to allow all that had passed between them to slip?  Never had he felt so ill at ease.  At last, fixing his eyes upon her, he said—­

“Let us cease this trifling.  Perhaps you do not know how painful it is to me.  Tell me, will you come and see me?  Do not let us waste time.  I never see you alone now.”

“I could not think of coming to see you; it would not be right.”

“But you did come once.”

“That was because I wanted to see where you lived.  Now that I know, there would be no reason for coming again.”

“You have not forgiven me.  If you knew how I regret my conduct!  Try and understand that it was for love of you.  I was so fearful of losing you.  I have lost you; I know it!”

He cursed himself for the irresolution he had shown.  Had he made her his mistress she would now be hanging about his neck.

“I forgive you.  But I wish you would not speak of love in connection with your conduct; when you do, all my liking for you dies.”

“How cruel!  Then I shall never kiss you again.  Was my kiss so disagreeable?  Do you hate to kiss me?”

“I don’t know that I do, but it is not right.  If I were married to you it would be different.”

The conversation fell.  Then realizing that he was compromising his chances, he said—­

“How can I marry you?  I haven’t a cent in the world.”

“I am not sure I would marry you if you had every cent in the world.”

Mike looked at her in despair.  She was adorably frail and adorably pale.

“This is very cruel of you.”  Words seemed very weak, and he feared that in the restlessness and pain of his love he had looked at her foolishly.  So he almost welcomed Lady Helen’s intrusion upon their tete-a-tete.

“And this is the way you come for your dance, Mr. Fletcher, is it?”

“Have they begun dancing?  I did not know it.  I beg your pardon.”

“And I too am engaged for this dance.  I promised it to Mr. Escott,” said Lily.

“Let me take you back.”